After viewing several different Wikis, I am beginning to see and understand how I could use Wikis in my classroom. Even if only for the simple fact of introducing my students to a different type of technology, it s a step in the right direction of 21st century technology. As I have said before viewing different Wikis has given my new ideas on how I could use Wikis in my classroom.
The biggest challenge I found was trying to get ideas for lower grade being that I teach 1st grade. I like the idea of simply posing a question and having a goal each month for school year (http://monsonclassroom.wikispaces.com/)
I like posing the question on how school now is different from school of the past. I like that within the discussion they students had subtopics for individuals to post on different places. That was a great idea. (http://schoolsthen.wikispaces.com/)
I did not care for the site Go West on the Oregon Trial. Granted it was for the 3rd grade it just seemed like to much for me as an adult. (lol) Ok seriously.... After reading the teacher reflection, it seemed as though the teacher really enjoyed the project as well as the students from what she said. It sounded like every group had a some part scanning and posting information. One thing that caught me was when she said that the students had such a desire to have everything so perfect that the project required a lot of one-on-one tutoring. The site does seem to be set up effectively. In the reflection, the teacher said that she would do it all over again but at the end of the reflection there were two names at the end. I wondering how much time was put into making the project as I am the only teacher of 20 first graders. How long would it really take me to do something like that? (http://gowest.wikispaces.com/)
I like that Vicki Davis grouped her students and assigned each group a word. I like that she gave them guidelines and criteria on what they could and could not do under certain circumstances.
I can see myself using Wikis in my classroom, but I would definitely like to become more familiar with them. One idea that came to my mind. I heard that the fifth graders at my school were writing persuasive papers about uniforms at the school and whether they should have to wear them or not. “The word” is most of the students do not want uniforms. I think that rather than just having their thoughts on papers how would to students feel about doing a Wiki on the topic. If given criteria and guidelines..... I wonder where would it go.
>>I think that rather than
ReplyDelete>>just having their thoughts
>>on papers
I bet students prefer using technology to using plain paper and pencils! One of my students, who hesitates to write, now has a better attitude toward writing itself simply because he sometimes uses a small white board, sometime a big white board, or even on my computer. He knows that typing in Word has spell-checking featuer, so he knows it'll help him with spelling.