Oooohhh...so THAT'S what a WIKI is! How cool! Had only heard about them re: the library sign-up, but had never needed to use that, so my experience was in the negative-numbers range. Glad to know more about them. I was so impressed with the range of content I encountered...every grade level had participation in some way. I think I read each and every wiki that was listed, spending time clicking around all over the place. I particularly liked the 3rd graders Go West wiki, which allowed young readers to post their learning from a class novel about westward expansion. Turn Homeward, Hannalee was a similar wiki with 5th graders and their reading of a novel that took place during the Civil War. I thought that was pretty cool, and really shows what youngsters can accomplish. I also liked the Schools in the Past. Students interviewed their parents and grandparents about schools in the past to see how things have changed. What a relevant topic as we explore this use of technology in the classroom! I'm more convinced than ever that this is the "candy" that we can't give out in our classrooms anymore. What kids used to do for a jolly rancher, they'll now do for a few minutes at the computer! Oh, how I need more training!
I did have to ask myself if our current class organization style is suited for this type of learning. With the limited amount of time the students have in class period, and all of us feeling the stress of state testing breathing down our necks, it's hard for me personally to find time to 'stray' from the mandated curriculum. Also, I miss and deeply crave the collaborative planning that there seems to be no time for in our current schedule.
I definitely want to explore the use of a wiki before the end of the year so that I can be more comfortable with its regular use for next year.
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