As I work toward proficiency in the NETS standard "Model Digital-Age Work and Learning," I am finding new ways
to "collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation" (NETS-T, 2008). I am collaborating with classmates on a problem based learning wiki site,
and I have also developed a wiki for students to use as they solve a problem.
I am coaching an Odyssey of the Mind team this year, and our team meets once each week to work on a long term problem. Their solution will be presented at a state tournament on March 25, leaving us with about twelve meetings in which to work together. Last year, without digital collaboration, we were very pressed for time. Therefore, I set up a wiki for this year's problem, where students can communicate and collaborate throughout the week. Online collaboration is no replacement for face time, but it is certainly enhancing this experience and allowing everyone to work on the project at their convenience. The students are very engaged and excited, and they are all participating from home in their spare time this year, instead of solely at our weekly meetings.
Reference
ISTE (2008). NETS for Teachers 2008: Standards. ISTE: online. Retrieved November 10, 2010 from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers/nets-for-teachers-2008.aspx
Hi.
ReplyDeleteTell us about the wiki you are having your students create. I am very interested as I want to have my students create one, too. Love the idea of using it for your competition in the Odyssey of the Mind. Very cool approach. Do all participating have access to a computer? I'd love to see the wiki. Can you share the URL?
Digs
I would love to know more about the wiki too! I love that your students are completing this assignments. It may seem awkward at first, but I bet they would rather do this kind of homework assignment at home, than a hand written one! Really neat!
ReplyDeleteWell, this is saving them a lot of duplication in their work. Since this is a student directed problem solving activity, they really need time and space to work it all out together without too much teacher interference. They are motivated because this is actually an extra curricular activity and they are working on it by choice. There are also many criteria and rules they must follow in their development of this solution, so the wiki is a space where I can publish all the Odyssey of the Mind rules and the problem details for them to access at all times. I can also post our schedule and important dates there, remind students to bring materials to meetings, etc. Best of all, students are truly writing their script collaboratively.
ReplyDeleteOur wiki is at http://beanschoolodysseyofthemind.pbworks.com, because this is a site I have used before and I feel comfortable using it...plus it's free. All of the students on the team have computer access at home, and they all have their parents' permission to use this site.
ReplyDelete