Class+Wiki

Artifact: Ms. Kinney's Science Class Wiki
=Artifact Summary: =

**Technology Standards Addressed:**

 * Teacher Standards -**
 * I. Information Access, Evaluation, Processing and Application - Access, evaluate, process and apply information efficiently and effectively.
 * II. Communication - Use technology effectively and appropriately to interact electronically
 * II. Communication - Use technology to communicate information in a variety of formats.
 * III. Legal, Social, and Ethical Issues - Demonstrate an understanding of the legal, social, and ethical issues related to technology use.
 * V. Integrating Technology into the Curriculum and Instruction - Design, implement, and assess learning experiences that incorporate use of technology in a curriculum-related instructional activity to support understanding, inquiry, problem-solving, communication and/or collaboration.
 * VI. Assistive Technology - Understand human, equity, and developmental issues surrounding the use of assistive technology to enhance student learning performance and apply that understanding to practice.
 * VII. Professional Growth - Develop professional practices that support continual learning and professional growth in technology.


 * Student Standards -**
 * 2.2.B.1. - Practice responsible and appropriate use of technology systems, software, and information.
 * 2.2.B.3. - Understand current online safety guidelines.
 * 3.2.A.1. - Use and explain how the technology enhances learning.
 * 3.2.A.1. - Use and understand how technology encourages collaboration.
 * 3.4.A.1. - Use and explain how technology is used for communication.
 * 3.4.A.2. - Use and explain the variety of media formats.
 * 5.1.B.1 - Organize information using technology tools

Description of the artifact:
"Ms. Kinney's Classroom Wiki" focuses on using Wiki tools to explore our 1st Grade Science. It was used to supplement our current Science Curriculum as a center, independent, or extension activity. As a center, students can work independently or with a partner to explore additional links about various science topics. Independently and in small groups, students have been asked to complete a Photostory about one topic. The wiki will house the student's completed projects. The concept of a K-W-L chart was used in order to build the pages within the site. Unlike K-W-L charts used strictly in the classroom, students can always return to the pages to build upon them whether they are in school, at home, at the library or some other location. Students can always revisit the pages to strengthen or revisit skills that we learned throughout the unit. Parents may also utilize the site at home our outside of school because it gives a very precise overview of student and teacher expectations while we are learning about the solar system.

Reflection:
Creating the wiki was very time-consuming but it was worthwhile. Students enjoyed the two way collaboration because they felt more like a participant who also had valuable knowledge to share. Parents had positive comments about the wiki also, because they could see how their child's learning was developing.

Some additional things to consider would be to have both parents and students sign a user agreement specific to the use of the wiki and blogs. Some people are anxious about their child's use of the Internet and need a specific reason for how the Internet will be used to enhance their child's expectations. Also, consider the student's basic knowledge of using the tools - such as whether or not they know how to type. Will you as the teacher be more concerned with the content of the project or the process? Will you "grade" students on spelling and punctuation within their projects since the wiki does not contain a spelling-grammar check?

Another thing that I learned was to just let go. Students definitely have a greater comfort level with technology than most of us!