Reflection Week 5

The Wiki is a very effective tool that be can be utilized in the classroom very easily. After viewing many of the Wikis available for fifth grade, and other grade levels, the information provided and resources posted is phenomenal.

One way I would use the Wiki is similar to that of the blog. Students would be given a topic and will have to post their group project(s) on the site. Once the information was posted, other students would have the opportunity to add more information, or rebut information (constructive criticism) that was posted. In this manner the whole class would not only have to create and research their own information for their project, but would also have to research and verify information posted by the different groups.

Second, the Wiki would be a great place to post assignments and research links for the various fifth grade content areas. For example, the TMSDS website is used as a teacher resource for math and science. The Study Island website is a resource for students and teachers. By posting these sites not only will my students have access to the sites, but educators in other states have a chance to view the sites, and may have their schools purchase these resources. in turn, other educators can post resources that they have found, and can be used by the students in my class.

Lastly, the use of the Wiki is an excellent opportunity for students to have a voice outside of the classroom. Many students do not and will not speak in the classroom for fear of being wrong. The Wiki will allow them to post information that they have found without fear of being ridiculed. Although the usage of the Wiki requires constructive criticism, the comments given by their peers will hopefully give the quieter student the much needed boost to participate in live classroom discussions.

Thanks!