Thing 8: Wiki pages

This is wiki wiki cool!  The wiki page that WA third graders did on the Oregon Trail was absolutely amazing!  I had so many questions after reading through all the tabs.  I never knew there was so much research that could be done by third graders.  Did they create and expand upon these topics, like medicine and weapons, or did the teacher give them the broad range of topics?  This page is so impressive.  I really liked how the page was organized.  I recognized the template from wikispaces.  The coolest part was that the students used a variation of formats to bring their reporting to the wiki page.

I enjoyed the Primary math wiki.  There are some great ideas that get me thinking about our units of study and how the students could bring their learning and work to the public stage.  I need to play around with these and similar wki pages more so that I can absorb a wider spectrum of options.  As I play, I get more involved and find myself far from where I started, but that’s the fun of it!

I started a wikipage (www.wnsecondgrade.wikispaces.com) where my students are going to research spiders.  I have links, pictures, and instructions for constructing their reports.  Due dates and procedures are posted.  So far the students do not have access to edit this wiki.  The goal is that they each type their reports and, as completed, they will read them into a pocast that will be posted.  Pictures, clip art, etc. will be allowed.  I’m really open to any ideas.  This is my first experience with it, as well as my students, so we’re all learning and open to suggestions.

I already gathered some ideas for this project and, thinking ahead to future projects, I learned a lot from the Wiki Walkthrough.  There were ideas based on grade level and by subject area.  Ideas such as an author study will work across all grade levels.  I like virtual field trips and book reviews.