Annotations

Teacher's First: Science: One great use for any science would be to collaborate among many different classes within a school or with other schools. This allows students to collect larger data samples and draw more valid conclusions. Another good use would be to use the wiki space as an online study group where students can ask each other for help on certain topics.

EduScapes: Science: A wiki can be a great resource to implement the scientific process. A student can submit an experiment idea with data collected and several different people can follow the submitted procedure to see if the originator's experiment is recreatable and if they get similar outcomes. They can also expand on submitted experiments by linking similar experiments. A wiki can also be a great place for students to compile valid website lists for research projects. Each website can be linked and have a brief synopsis of what is found at the website.

Literature wiki: IDEA - using a wiki for Of Mice and Men. The navigation bar will list the chapters of the novella. In pairs, students will be directed to list unfamiliar vocabulary words/terms and/or events that they are to research and deposit in the form of traditional information/video clips/art, etc. For example, in the first chapter "The Great Depression" is mentioned. Narrowing the information, students will be directed to research events such as the "dust bowl", Dorothea Lange photography, period music. In the second chapter the term "migrant farmer" appears. Again students will be directed to do the research and deposit their findings in the wiki page. JC: P, an excellent use of a wiki as an information repository. Perhaps asking the students to explain how their information supports the story elements in Of Mice and Men would get them thinking at higher levels.

Spanish wiki: In order to recognize the many differences of the various Spanish-speaking countries, students would be asked to contribute information specific to their assigned countries. Because this will be in chart form, the students will be able to cross-reference and compare and contract the many aspects of culture that exist in these countries. JC: S, another great way to use a wiki as an information repository. Creating the chart asks students to begin thinking at higher levels. Maybe asking students to speculate why cultural elements are similar of different in two countries would be an extention activity.

Literature: It might be fun to have the students create 'reference manuals' for literature they are reading in class. For example, if students are reading a Harry Potter book, they might create pages to provide information about plants/herbs mentioned during the students' classes, research the meanings of characters' names, and perhaps find out about the colors/mascots for each 'house.' In another vein, the teacher might post quotes/significant moments on the top of pages and ask students to respond individually or as a group, each student will take on the identity of one of the characters to respond. JC: B this would take wonderful advantage of all of the wiki functions, ask them to think at thigher levels, and be fun for the students. Students could maintain the wiki over the course of the school year.

Literature: With summer just around the corner and summer reading lists growing, a great way to use a wiki would be to make tabs for each story. They students would be able to access the teacher’s page and choose stories from the recommended list to read. They can read the provided descriptions of the books and choose the one that seems most interesting to the individual. By creating discussions on the page about new vocabulary words and reactions to the readings, the students would have the classroom feel while working from home at the same time! The students could learn from the reactions of their peers and maybe even become intrigued to read different types of books.