This week we have focused on wiki's and blogs. I am somewhat familiar with wikis ( although I didn't know wiki, wiki was a Hawaiian term meaning quick) because I have used one this past year in my classes. The previous year I had used a blog, but with both tools I did not use them to their full potential. This year I will try to do so. I wanted an online site where I could post resources and help for my classes- a wiki does this better than a blog. I can embed videos, notes, tutorials, class photos and slideshows, games I make to review content etc.etc. Wiki's also provide a place for students to ask questions (in comments). However, I discovered two things this year: 1. Some students really got a lot out of the wiki and used it extensively, others did not. 2. Very few students left comments.
Having taken this class, I feel more prepared to address these two discoveries. I can require students to comment and /or have a link to a blog, where they must comment. I do think blogging is a very good form of processing what students have learned- for me and for them. I also think, some students need the online, at home review of the class where they can learn at their own pace. I also liked having all my multimedia material for class in one place ( on my wiki) so I didn't have to hunt for a video or a simulation on my computer during class- I just pulled up the wiki for that class, and everything was there- either the link or the video embedded, or a photo etc. An interesting thing I found was that I did have a few very bright, students who never used the wiki ( unless I assigned an online test or quiz - and even then they would blow it off sometimes). They just wanted to learn everything in class and didn't want to go through the extra effort to get online. They of course are also the ones who didn't do much homework either. I now have some better ideas of how they might be motivated to do more, but honestly I do think there are students who don't need any of these things and just want to learn the material in a quick and easy format-"just throw the info at me; I get it; leave me alone until you test me". There are not a lot of these types of students, but there are some.
In conclusion, I have include this video about advice on using wiki's in the classroom:
I have a handful of those kids too- I can throw anything at them and they're happy to learn without any extra effort. What types of things can you do to engage and motivate them to WANT to go online and participate?
ReplyDeleteMaybe posting student work online and requiring them to log in to evaluate it? Posting links to sites they're required to visit? Requiring students to take turns facilitating an online discussion each week?
Does anyone have other ideas?
How many total students do you have? My only fear about requiring students to do things like comment is trying to keep track of it as I have between 160 - 180 students typically. That quickly makes something feel overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteBut I do feel that there is potential with these digital tools to make that type of earner even more self directed by giving up some of our control and letting them work through material on their own pace. But man is it scary to relinquish control. We work so hard to maintain it sometimes that I wonder if it stifles some kids.
Michele
I've experienced the same problems as you did with my class blog. I tried it out last year and made it optional. Very few kids participated and it was very ineffective. This year I will make it mandatory to post a set amount of blog comments (maybe four) per marking period. This way I am not bogged down from reading 120 comments every time I want to blog, but still some kids will participate because they will be graded. We will see if this works!
ReplyDeleteDanielle