Wikis+in+Education


 * 1)  **Beverly Koopman’s Buffalos (SJ 7/23/08)**
 * 2) Wikiname: desbuffalo address: http://desbuffalo.wikispaces.com/
 * 3) The class is located in Buffalo, MN at Discovery Elementary
 * 4) This is 5th grade
 * 5) It covers all subjects (math, science, social studies, reading, writing, art)
 * 6) The purpose of the wiki is a place for kids to find all information about class, as well as complete tasks, assignments, and homework to be posted or responded to on this wiki. From lessons to videos, from podcasts to scavenger hunts, this wiki seems to have it all!
 * 7) It appears the teacher puts the information on the wiki as a tool for the kids. There are daily lessons, notes, videos, assignments and more.
 * 8) The students use it as a resouce for materials learned that day and a place to “turn in” homework through blogs, podcasts, or additions to the wiki.
 * 9) The majority of the content appears to be created by teacher, though the tool of giving kids a place to turn in homework assignments, have discussion, and add content to the wikispace gives the students ownership of this wiki as well.
 * 10) The wiki is neatly organized with subjects on the left. Each page is easy to navigate and find information. By breaking each “page” down into subjects, students can easily find what they are looking for. There are a lot of graphics and eye-catching areas, inviting to students who are used to video games and graphics. When you click on a subject, it takes you to a task or a link for resources. Each area is clearly labeled so that students and visitors know what they are in for.
 * 11) There are links to other resources for tasks. There are videos put into lesson plans (math) so students can watch those and use them as a tool. Perfect for students that are absent or who need a reminder of something once they have left the classroom. There is a poetry scavenger hunt on the writing page. It has a link to the actual scavenger hunt questions, as well as links for sites they can use to help find answers. ( http://www.proteacher.com/cgi-bin/outsidesite.cgi?id=12970&external=http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/2lesson.htm&original=http://www.proteacher.com/070034.shtml&title=Famous%20Poems%20and%20Poets ) Students then have to add a question to the scavenger hunt on the wiki for other classmates to find. There is also a link to the class blog as well, where students respond to questions and can gather more information.
 * 12) What stood out is the amount of information that is available to these students and parents. The teacher and class appear to have put a lot of time into creating this wiki as a useful tool for the class. It was so easy to navigate and so easy to view. Students I’m guessing are excited and enthused about this spot as an information resource as well as a way to contribute to the class through discussions, homework, and blogs.
 * 13) Students have multiple ways to learn through this wiki (audio-podcasts, visual-videos, collaborating with peers, responding to discussion questions). It’s a way for a teacher to give a lot of information to students and allow students to use what they need to get from point a to point b.
 * 14) A wiki offers much more than a non-technological format lesson. Students learn in so many ways and the non-tech lessons tend to teach one way, whether that covers all learners or not. We tend to focus on the “average” students with lessons and hope the rest gain something from it. With a wiki, it’s appealing and inviting and a new way of learning. It doesn’t focus on one group of learners, but it gives all learners a way to take in the materials and emerge them in the lesson. It’s teaching to our kids who have become known as “screenagers” according to Windows on the Future.