Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Wikis for Collaborative Learning and Knowledge Construction

This week we have been asked to create a lesson plan in which a wiki is used to foster collaboration and construct knowledge. The unit I have put together is over Ancient Greece. This unit will focus on historical content and accuracy, reading comprehension- specifically compare/contrast skills, writing, technology & mapping skills.
The students will work on their group wikis primarily in the classroom so that they are able to have guidance from the teacher if needed and guide each other through this collaborative creative process. Creating a wiki gives the students some creative license, but also lets the students analyze the content and determine what they think is the most important information about Ancient Greece.

wikis in education
Title: History of Ancient Greece
Target Audience: 6th Grade Social Studies Students                                            

Learning Objectives:
Students will describe important features of daily life in Ancient Greece.
Students will understand where Greece is geographically located and know the significance of the geography of the surrounding area.
Students will compare and contrast the civilizations of Ancient Athens and Ancient Sparta.
Students will compare and contrast the climate and terrain of Greece to the climate and terrain where they live.
Students will understand the significance of the contributions of Ancient Greece to today’s society.
Students will be able to create a collaborative Wiki and understand basic formatting.

Materials Needed:
Internet, smart board, laptop cart or computer lab access, Athens/Sparta compare contrast worksheet, outline maps of Greece and surrounding area, excerpts from the Odyssey, video note packet, dry erase trade route maps, Wiki FAQ handout for students.

Instruction/ Learning Procedures:
   
o    5- 45 minute technology sessions in class, if more time is needed to complete the Wiki it will be done at home.
o    9- 45 minute class sessions for Ancient Greek content
o    2- 45 minutes class sessions to present Wikis to the class and conference with the teacher about the project.
Additional class time may be needed depending on student needs.

The teacher will have a Smart Board lesson for each section of the unit along with appropriate videos and internet sites.
o    Students will be in groups of 4 for Wiki collaboration.
o    Students will compare/contrasts Athens & Sparta in groups of 2.
o    Students will complete maps of Ancient Greece individually.
o    Students will write a 4 paragraph compare/contrast essay of the U.S. government & culture vs Ancient Greek government and culture- groups of two.
o    Students will complete a Greek god or goddess Glogster individually- homework.
  
Evaluation: Ancient Greece map rubric. Wiki Collaboration rubric; peer evaluation and self-assessment. Compare and contrast essay rubric. Glogster rubric.


                    www.ascd.org   

Learning Activities:
  • Create a Wiki incorporating the major themes of Ancient Greece; include graphics, references, and hyperlinks.
  • Map of Ancient Greece-color, label, and create a key.
  • Note packets will be distributed for all videos watched during the course of this unit.
  • Compare and contrast essay of U.S. culture and government vs Ancient Greek culture and government.
  • Greek god/goddess Glogster homework assignment.

Day 1- Intro to Wiki *add content, edit, basic formatting, students will be able to play in the sandbox. –Wiki how to video on YouTube- *students will have the opportunity to explore other educational wikis

Day 2- Geography of Greece *locate on a map; describe important physical features and how they helped/hurt Greek society/culture; Map of Ancient Greece- label, color, create key. Short video with note packet about Greek geography/features.

Day 3- Agriculture & Trade *With rocky soil, what can Greeks grow? Where did they get the rest of their food and other important items? Dry erase maps to trace trade routes; What did Greeks trade with other countries? Culture?

Day 4- Begin Wiki in class *establish group norms and roles *define important content *create *trouble shoot –Wiki FAQ handout for students-

Day 5- Athens- government, daily life, people *type of government *men/women roles *children in Athens *agora/culture *navy –British Museum daily life in Athens-http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/

Day 6- Sparta- government, daily life, people *type of government *men/women roles *children in Sparta *military *culture?? –British Museum daily life in Sparta- http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/  *Begin compare/contrast essay on Sparta & Athens

Day 7- Wiki- collaborate, write, add new content to group wiki during class

Day 8- Conflict in Ancient Greece- Trojan War, Peloponnesian War, Persian War –video with video notes packet-

Day 9-Religion *polytheistic *Mt. Olympus *Olympics * gods & goddesses –assign god/goddess Glogster

Day 10-Wiki- collaborate, write, add new content, edit

Day 11- Greek Culture & Contributions- Art & Architecture *statues, pottery columns, famous buildings *power point on Greek art & architecture

Day 12-Greek Culture & Contributions- Literature & Philosophy *excerpts from the Odyssey for analysis *short video with notes on great philosophers

Day 13- Compare & Contrast- U.S. government & culture with Ancient Greek government & culture. Four paragraph essay with a partner.

Day 14- final in class Wiki time- collaborate, edit, add new content…

Day 15- Wiki presentations to the class

Day 16- Project conference with teacher




                                                                       


Wiki Grading Rubric
Student Name(s):
Assignment:
____ 5 pts A collaborative effort (as seen in the history) IF IT IS A GROUP WIKI. – 5 points
Several participants have contributed. Wikis are collaborative. Each person brings their strengths
and contributes things that they are good at to the project.

____ 10 pts Visual appeal
Graphics are used as needed and add to the message. Graphics are not distracting and used where
needed to further explain a topic. If does not look cluttered.
____ 10 pts Organization
A table of contents is used, headings and underlines are used appropriately.

____ 10 pts Hyperlinks to sources
An effective wiki hyperlinks sources and gives readers additional information about the topic.
Because most people tend to not trust wikis (they don't know the authors), you must include a
variety of hyperlinks to be considered an effective source of information. As people follow your
hyperlinks, they will begin to look at the information you've linked to. They will learn that you
are an authority and that you've "done your homework." Make sure that you have checked your
hyperlinks and that they work.

_____ 15 pts Original, intelligent wording
The effective wiki summarizes information but never copies it! (Cite your sources.) The wording
is intelligent and meaningful and jargon is not used. Wikis may be read by a global audience and
authors must keep that in mind.

_____ 15 pts Spelling/Grammar Punctuation (-1 each up to max)
_____ 35 pts Assignment criteria met.
TOTAL POINTS out of 100 pts    _______________          Final Grade Earned  ___________



For more information on how wikis can be used in the classroom:



References:
www.middleweb.com




4 comments:

  1. Rebecca,

    I've been thinking about how wikis can be used in a traditional classroom setting. I think that you have done a very good job of laying out the learning activities to enhance the learning that typically takes place in your classroom. I do have a few concerns that you have probably thought about. Does each of the children in your classroom have access to a computer or will they need to schedule time to work individually or in groups? Is the wiki in this case used as the presentation platform for the group and most of the collaboration is taking place outside of the actual wiki? I only ask this since one of the drawbacks with the wiki is that only one member of the group can be editing content at a time.

    I appreciate any feedback you can provide!

    Gary

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  2. Gary-
    Thank you for your response and I understand your concerns. Knowing that every student may not have access to a computer or the internet, most of the collaboration would be done in the classroom and the wiki would be edited in the classroom for the most part.
    My current wiki group is collaborating primarily through email and Skype. We do make notes on our wiki, but most things get hashed out through Skype and email. I absolutely hear you on the editing issues with wikis. Our group has also experienced those issues and we have to email each other whenever we are ready to edit.
    I hope this answers your questions!
    Rebecca

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    Replies
    1. Rebecca,

      Thanks for the reply and the clarification for me, I appreciate it. I like the idea that there is even another form of technology, Skype, being employed by your students in the collaboration of the class project. It's obvious that with the activities you have going in the classroom, and then after hours, your students have numerous opportunities to be engaged.

      Gary

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  3. Rebecca,
    Great lesson plan, I marvel at what 6th graders can do and learn in this age, much more interesting that the “old fashioned” term papers I remember from 6th grade. I remember drawing and coloring maps for geography in 7th grade it would have been wonderful to be involved in a lesson such as you laid out about Ancient Greece.

    The only concern I would have about this lesson plan is the amount of guidance that the classroom teacher would need to provide. I tutor a 2nd grade boy in reading and his classroom teacher is so overwhelmed with 22 students and all the demands it would be hard to give projects such as this the time they need and deserve. An upper grade might be better.

    Overall great job!
    Lynn

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