What have we been missing all of these years? Answer: Wikis. How have we completed group projects as undergrads without these? Since our introduction to this communal tool, all but one of my project groups has started using a Wiki. Mark VanKempen seems to be smitten with these things - if you are in one of his groups, you are sure to have a Wiki generated in about 5 minutes after the end of the first group meeting.
My groups have been using Wikis to share information about research, ideas, and make changes to living documents. Some people have been posting some inspirational/comedic images and videos (you know who you are, Lauren). I have found this to be extremely effective - this saves time, inbox clutter, and encourages a sense of group pride.
As a future science teacher, I have been researching (through other blogs) ways to use Wikis in my classroom for things besides group projects. Most of the examples I have seen from other teachers involve creating books or keeping communal reading response logs. These don't seem too science oriented. One idea I came up with is having a Wiki that I can set up to post study notes, or handouts so students have that resource option. Something more creative would be nice....
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3 comments:
Heh, we had some sort of mind meld. I also wrote about wikis, and my current obsession with them. I think I have a problem. I need help.
Courtney, I agree with your comment about wikis. I think it is a tight race between mark v. and lauren for wiki-president. Seriously though they have the potential to so much time/ energy collaborating on projects like EDUC 606....and especially a year from now when we are actually getting paid for this wikiness.
I'm going to create a wiki about how much Mark and Lauren love wikis. Then I will create a separate wiki about how Courtney likes to talk about Mark and Lauren creating wikis. Hopefully this will put me in the running--along with Mark and Lauren and Courtney--for the title of "People in class who love wikis". Then, perhaps, I will finally be able to create a wiki about how I was elected "Person in class who most loves wikis". Then the internet will implode.
-Will-
PS. Courtney, sorry for cluttering your blog with my wiki-nonsense.
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