Group Project

 

Group Project Working together using this wiki Group members Uses of PBwiki Processes Elementary Ideas: High School/ Junior High Ideas: Final Process

 

Working together using this wiki

 

Here's what I would like to see here.  I would like us to use this page to develop ideas and a process for using PBwiki in our classrooms.  I'm learning this right along with you!  Below you find the group members, a section for Uses where we can share our ideas, and an area for processes where we share ways that we have learned to put this into practice or ideas we think will work. First thing I need you to do is place your name under group members (the password is in the e-mail I sent to you, and on our angel) along with a link to your e-mail or a way to contact you.

 

Be sure to post your username and e-mail when posting to this page.

 

Group members

 

• Clinton (e-mail me)
• Ian Sutherland (teacher from Manila who uses PBwiki in his classroom)
• David (dgabriel@athenasd.org)
• EDUC 463 Students
• Cathy (cgabriel@athensasd.k12.pa.us)

  

 

Uses of PBwiki

This section is for brainstorming on PBwiki uses.  Make sure to put your idea in bold.  Feel free to collaborate and elaborate on these ideas. 

 

 

Idea 1

Classroom Study Group:  collaborate with students before a test, ask/answer questions, access to students beyond the classroom hours (ex. teacher available for fifteen minutes on a given evening where students can access live chat with teacher on class related materials:  extra credit)

Thoughts on idea 1

Larry:  This is a great way to give students the opportunity to ask a quick question after the travel home has caused brain fade.  Many times a student can be put back on track in a very short time.  I'm not sure that 15 minutes would be enough time to answer sufficiently, but certainly no more than 30 minutes should be offered.

Brett:  Another idea for is that students could post ideas for test questions.  They could write what they believe is most important for each chapter.  It would allow each of the students to feel as though they had a say in what was on the test.  Of course, the teacher could pick and choose but it would allow the students to create a dialogue about what might be on the test.

Cathy: I also agree. This would be a great way for students to get answers to some of their questions.Many students are also busy with sports and miss some of the lectures that are going on in class. Most of these students are on the computer anyways.

Idea 2

Homework Collaboration: Vickie: So often students tell me they wish I was home with them to answer their questions during homework sessions...this would be an ideal way for a teacher to instruct outside the classroom. 

Thoughts on idea 2

Larry:  This would also be a great way to reinforce concepts that began in the classroom.

Melissa: This would also be a great way to post homework assignments so parents know what their students are suppose to be doing every night, or what they aren't suppose to be doing. (sometimes we don't have homework and the parents don't believe the students)

Cathy:It would help out the students and the parents. Some of these research papers that these kids are doing are unbelievable. I have a hard time even helping our son.

Idea 3

Dave: Missing Person Reports: Many kids come in after an extended absence and ask the question, "what did I miss while I was gone?"  With a wiki page set-up and maintained daily for classroom procedures (possibly in a template form-objectives and standards met, bell ringers, activities done, homework, quiz dates, test dates, extra credit etc.) students would be able to keep up to date at home on their computer and in theory have their work all done when they return.

Thoughts on idea 3

Larry:  While this certainly would be a benefit for those who have been absent, the mass of material that would have to be on this wiki would be difficult to continually update.

Sharon M:  I like this idea.  I am constantly filling out homework request slips or even seding homework for those who are vacationing.  I never know exactly what assignment I am giving until I have

taught the lesson to each class.  They can check in via computer.  I can give them a general idea but this would be great.

Cathy: I am not sure that a wiki page would benefit my first graders. All but one of my students has access to the internet. I know that they already check out my webpage. It would be nice to be able to list the books that I am reading during the week, the projects, and assignments on a wikipage.

Idea 4

Deb:  Family Page: I'd like to set up a Wiki for the families of my students.  I find that many of my students travel to and from mom's house, dad's house, and even grandma's house.  Many times they will get to their place of "rest" for the night and forget how to do their homework.  We are using Everyday Math this year and even I have questions with my own son's homework!  Perhaps a "Family Wiki" would be useful - a wiki where anyone who deals with my students can ask questions regarding assignments and/or classroom events.

Thoughts on idea 4

Larry:  Once again, this is a great idea that would benefit many of the blended families in our community.  If this could be combined with the Missing  Person Reports it would minimize repeated update on different platforms.

Brett:  As a special education teacher, we constantly need to open up the doors of communication with our parents.  It's often difficult because when I'm available to make calls, the parents are at work.  It ends up being a game of phone tag.  With the Wiki, if I have things I need to communicate to the parents, I can.  If they need to give me a message, they can write it back.  I can also write updates on how the class is going.  Best of all I just give them this address and do not have to compile a list of e-mail addresses that seem to change as internet providers change.

Idea 5 

Brett:  Posting notes from class:  I am currently working with a student who one one the adaptations is class notes typed out.  I believe this could work as a way of posting the notes so that the parent could check the notes and students who missed the notes could copy them as well.  It would be a great tool to help those student's who have frequent absences to get the notes.  It would save time and allow the parents to know exactly what was taught in class.  It would hold the students more accountable as well.  

Idea 6

Bill:  COllaborative teaching:I think this could be very helpful as a cross-curricular tool for teachers.  For example, my history class reads some novels covering the time period we are studying.  During the unit on WWI, we read All Quiet on the Western Front.  I t provides many examples of the same learing objectives covered in history classroom teaching.  For example, there are numerous examples in AQWF of the effects of the British blockade and their extended definition of contraband in the book.  Working collaboratively through our wiki, we could ensure that the literary and historical lessons coincide, making the learning thematic and more relevant.

Linda:  This collaborative teaching could also be linked to music written during the same time period as WWI etc.....this would unify history,literature and music even more thematic.

Idea 6

Kim:  Most of my families do not have access to the Internet.  So things that I post on my school web page, I try and share with my students during the day.  What are some ideas that I could use? 

Larry:  Is it possible that sometime during the school day each student could access the internet and refer to your web page?

Craig: Some of the kids may be able to make use of the public library.  Most have computers that the public may use.

Idea 7

Linda:  Adaptations and Extensions of the unit being taught could be posted on the Wiki.  Students could continue working on material connected to their unit of study without direction given by classroom teacher. 

Processes

Here is where we discuss the process for introducing a PBwiki and then maintaining it.  This discussion will include the process for building a culture in the classroom around the PBwiki...Remember you can edit whatever anyone puts on here.  Place questions about processes or ideas in red. 

 

Elementary Ideas:

 Diane: My students have access to a computer lab twice a week. We are expected to do Compass. Once a month I use the internet to do individual reports on themes .Instead I would use PBwiki to make class books on themes. This will save me work making individual books and students will all have a copy of all student  work. 

 Stacy: That is a great idea to make 1 class book that everyone adds to with their ideas! Another idea is to add parent letters to your wiki page. This keeps parents up to date and they can't say, "I never got that." I also will add information that parents can use all year long , such as a list of Word Wall Words.

 Mary:  We are a very large district with several outlying buildings.  Since many of these buildings contain only one teacher per grade, it is a great way to collaborate on ideas for themes, field trips, etc. 

 Melissa: I think it would be a great idea for the students to use this during the literacy center time. It would be used as a station for the kids to update events, pictures, things that they have learned daily or weekly. This would be a great way for the webpage to be kept up to date!

Cathy: My students also have access to the computer lab twice a week. We have not started Compass yet and I don't know if we are going to. I could also make use of a PBwiki for my class. It would also be great for collaboration with the other schools in our district.

 

High School/ Junior High Ideas:

 

Ann:  I could see using wiki in collaborative work where students research a given topic/subject; for example, one of my capstone projects in my software course is students research a foreign country's social and business customs, taboos, protoctol. One student could focus on the social/cultural aspects of that country; the other student could focus his research on the country's business protocol. Students then produce a newsletter , incorporating their research about this country, as well as a Power Point. Their newsletter pubication, as well as the Power Point, could be published on wiki.

 

Nichole:  Teachers could post a reading or a link to an on-line activity on Mondays, then on Fridays, give a short quiz based on this.  This would allow students enough time to access a computer.  This would also establish a good routine.

 

Dave: Missing Person Report: An adaptation of the missing report for the students would be that each student is responsible for logging in and maintaining the template of above on a certain day.  For instance, student A is responsible for logging in and keeping track of Monday's activities (objectives and standards met, bell ringers, activities done, homework, quiz dates, test dates, extra credit etc.).  On Tuesday, student B is required to log in and do the same thing as student A did the day before. The process continues until everyone in the class has a turn logging in and updating what was covered.  The pages then can be used as outlines or study guides for tests and quizzes.

Questions about the process?

Linda M:  I agree.  Our students need to be held accountable for what is being taught and what a great  method for tracking and presenting the information to their classmates.  This gives our students the opportunity to explain what they are digesting from the lessons we are presenting to them. 

Sharon M: this is another great thought.  It helps when they can explain the process.  This is a great way to get them excited about classroom happenings.

Larry:  This would certainly keep the responsibility of recording what goes on in class with the students.  You never learn something as well as when you have to explain it to someone else.

 

 

Final Process

 

 

 

Missy:   Personally, I will not use wiki in my classroom seeing that I teach Physical Education...PHYSICAL being the key word here.  However, if I were to have time to get my students on the computer I would look to use wiki as a means of communicating with my students' parents since this is always such a difficult thing for me to do.   I would like to send them reminders about their children's gym day so sneakers can be sent, I would update them on upcoming lessons and topics, and I would touch base with them on any behavior problems I'm having with their child.