Well, I need to start off by saying that I used a Wiki page this year with my 8th graders to teach Civil Rights. It was a good experience for both myself and the students. We spend about a week in the computer lab adding information to the wiki. I split them up into groups and had each group take different aspects/people of the civil rights movement. I had a series of assignments that went along with it, including an assignment to comment on a critical thinking question. I checked their assignments periodically and took it for a grade. At the end, I had them present their wiki pages to the class. It was also a great way for them to study for the test. I will definitely do it this coming school year!
After looking at the ”Code Blue” wiki (http://codeblue.wikispaces.com/), I realized I could use my wiki in a different way than I used it before with my class. It seems that this wiki mainly has links to the needed information. I could forgo our use of the textbook and strictly have them find information and links on the web. This could be a good enrichment assignment for them that would not take as long.
I next checked out the wiki site about the holocaust (http://www.ahistoryteacher.com/~ahistory/apwhreview/index.php?title=Part_1:_Background). I thought it was very interesting. It reminded me of the webquests and thinkquests I learned about when I was taking education classes. I teach about the holocaust, and I liked how this project brings a personal touch by researching families that lived during the holocaust, yet it also teaches them information about the countries themselves during WWII. It seems this assignment would appeal more to the students because of the human aspect of it. This wiki wasn’t the most visually pleasing I’ve seen, but the idea is good.
I also liked “Cool Cat’s” idea on using wikis (http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2005/12/wiki-wiki-teaching-art-of-using-wiki.html). She said she started off with small assignments, such as vocabulary. I think I tend to have the impression that I have to use a wiki for some huge assignment or project, but I guess that is not always the case. I do, however, have to factor in that I cannot always have access to the computer lab. Here at Woodward we have four computer labs and for the most part, we can reserve them pretty easily, but not always. Sometimes, I can’t get into the lab, which means I have to postpone the assignment or do something different. I don’t know if lab space is concern for anyone else, but it is here at times. It seems that there truly are so many wonderful opportunities out there, but realistically, access can be a challenge. I guess the good thing is that you could always give wiki assignments as homework, so the students could do the work independently without taking up lab space at school. I also like her thoughts on using wikis as study guides. I found this helpful with my own wiki experience this year. The students seem to really take ownership of it and see the benefits of making their own study guide. I hope to implement for of this to my classes this year. As a teacher, you want to teach them study tools as well…this seems like a great way to teach them.
