I have used wikis in the past and have had mixed sucess with them. I think Karen's reflection about others (namely me) not posting on time and her having to wait is the big problem I have had with collaberation on the wiki before. I also read a comment about not wanting to post assignments on a blog becuase it could be used as an excuse by kids or parents for not doing the assignment. I have posted worksheets and notes on the wiki in the past and I have had a few kids/parents try to use that excuse. I always have a homework board in my classroom where I write each assignment down every day as well. I tell kids and parents that I'm human and I sometimes get busy and can't get to everything so they can't rely on just one method to be absolutly perfect every time. My kids now know that it's not a valid excuse that they checked the wiki at 4:00 and there wasn't anything on it so there was no homework.
I liked this activity and I love the color coding. I thought it was a great way for kids to collaberate across teams on extension projects.
I love how easy wikis are to edit and adapt. I can remeber having to use html code to change a webpage and it taking hours to get it right. With a wiki it takes just seconds to change and if you don't like it there is always a "back-up copy" in the history that you can go back to.
I wondered if I was to use this sort of activity in my class, if I might not want students include links or videos of the reserach they have done so that everyone has access to it. Instead of having just one person reading one article in Thomas Jefferson, you could have that person p[ost the link and have everyone read it. Each person would bring a slightly different interpretation to the data, which could lead to a more rounded understanding and a better project. It would also hold everyone accountable for actually doing the research rather than just reading what others wrote and using that. (I did look at the ratings while I was making my own)
The discussion board is great place to hold an asynchronist "conversation". Having held the conversation on the wiki the converstaion could be picked up in class, "hey I read what you posted last night and I wanted to say...". Students who are to shy to speak in groups or who just need more processing time could use it to help them communicate thier ideas.
I liked this activity and I love the color coding. I thought it was a great way for kids to collaberate across teams on extension projects.
I love how easy wikis are to edit and adapt. I can remeber having to use html code to change a webpage and it taking hours to get it right. With a wiki it takes just seconds to change and if you don't like it there is always a "back-up copy" in the history that you can go back to.
I wondered if I was to use this sort of activity in my class, if I might not want students include links or videos of the reserach they have done so that everyone has access to it. Instead of having just one person reading one article in Thomas Jefferson, you could have that person p[ost the link and have everyone read it. Each person would bring a slightly different interpretation to the data, which could lead to a more rounded understanding and a better project. It would also hold everyone accountable for actually doing the research rather than just reading what others wrote and using that. (I did look at the ratings while I was making my own)
The discussion board is great place to hold an asynchronist "conversation". Having held the conversation on the wiki the converstaion could be picked up in class, "hey I read what you posted last night and I wanted to say...". Students who are to shy to speak in groups or who just need more processing time could use it to help them communicate thier ideas.