Before this section I had no idea what a wiki was and a little apprehensive about using it. I knew about Wikipedia but did not fully understand why its information might not be accurate. Since working in wikis I have been pleasantly surprised with how easy they are to use. Pages can be easily added to organize content into sections. Information can be easily added and removed depending on the users need. It can also go from a working document to a finished, published document.
After working in wiki I have begun to toss ideas around that would make them usable in the classroom. One large concern is the ability of students to work on wikis from home. Even though most students have access to internet from home not all of them do, therefore teachers are not allowed to assign homework requiring computer use. Usimg wikis during school time again poses the problem of the ability to utilize computers and limited computer time. Wikis would be a great place to make a study guide. Students could add information on the topic to assist others with studying. Using the different pages groups of students could be responsible for each section that will be covered. For example, in a weather/atmosphere unit the wiki pages could be seperated by atmosphere, weather symbols, weather fronts, water cycle, clouds and heat transfer. The study guide would then be available on line for everyone.
In an idea to keep building the study guide it may be cool to introduce the "flipped" classroom through the wiki. Have kids add content about the stuff that they are going to learn the next day. Then they have been introduced to it already and have an idea of what it is you will be discussing. Overachievers will add to the introduction.
ReplyDeleteJason stole my comment. I was going to say this is a great way for them to create a study guide that you can print and pass out before the test.
ReplyDeleteGood idea. Might be built into their bellwork and let teams of students take turns.
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