Wikis!

If I was going to use Wikis in the classroom, here are the 3 top ways I would use them:

1. Collaborative Projects:

 This technology tool is ideal for project-based learning, and cross curricular projects in 9^th grade teams (if they still existed). One advantage of Wikis in collaborative projects is that they are online. Students with access to the Internet outside of school can work together to complete projects without having to be in school. They could collaborate on investigations.  Student groups would report on experimental designs and submit investigation reports to me. I am going to try having them investigate the reasons for the deteriorating health of the Chesapeake Bay.

2. Students Demonstration of Knowledge:

Where students provide information that fits within specific parameters on the Wiki to demonstrate what they have learned. I think it would be cool to have students develop an interactive glossary for defining earth science terms throughout the entire school year.

3. Wikis as a Classroom Webpage:

 This strategy provides everyday information for students use during the school year. The advantage is that everything is centrally located, eliminating the need for the upkeep of the user not friendly CMS ;-) I would include on my classroom webpage a calendar of events, homework assignments, handouts, notes, science safety rules, classroom rules, all my power point presentations, and maybe even pictures of students in class working on projects (if I was being an overachiever).

Blog on Blogs in the classroom

Blogging in the classroom…I think that blogging will spark students' enthusiasm for computers, writing and forming opinions. They’ll learn technical skills, but what I think will really appeal to students is learning that they have a voice online. They may be from a small town in the middle of nowhere, but they're writing online, others are commenting on it, and they're learning that people will listen.  Students will love having an audience.

I’m not quite sure yet how to incorporate blogging into my science lessons because I’ve always thought of blogs as online journals or diaries.  But I’m sure I can turn it into a learning tool somehow.

If I do have students use blogs, I would definitely be concerned about privacy issues.  Perhaps I could require students to use their initials or first names only to identify themselves in their blogs. I also have questions about controlling what gets posted.  I would worry that blog entries could for example, rant about personal troubles with parents or friends. I’m sure the technology exists which is designed to filter out inappropriate postings. I’ll just have to learn to use it.

Maybe I could just start the blogs primarily as a tool to relay information--study guides, handouts and assignments--to students and then work up to making it more interactive.  So eventually I could add a part to the blog year where students (and parents maybe) can post their questions or comments.  Small steps…