Lesson 1: Create a Wikibook
1. A brief description of the lesson plan: Students will read “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman. After reading and analyzing the poem, students will create their own “Song of Myself” and will upload it to the class Wikibook.
2. The class will utilize the school network, school and/or home computers, the Wikibooks software; each member of the class will be given user names and password which will give them access to their own page of the class book.
3. What skills, knowledge, and pedagogy are required of teachers: In order to effectively set up a Wikibook and instruct students in using the book, instructors should access the introduction to WikiBooks at http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Using_Wikibooks/Class_Project_Guidelines. Instructors should have a sense of the following:
a. How a wiki works
b. The goal of the class project (i.e. a book created by the class with each student creating an individual page
c. Ability to utilize Web 2.0 tools including the wiki site
d. Understanding of collaboration tools
e. Rules for the class including how to comment on other student’s work and how to revise and edit their own work
4. What prior skills and knowledge are required of students: In order to be able to do this project, students must have an understanding of:
a. The poem “Song of Myself”
b. The intent of the author and his background
c. How to write a poem about themselves
d. How to self-reflect and analyze
e. How to use a wiki including how to access their page, how to edit their work and how to read and comment on the work of others
5. What are students asked to do exactly (product or process): Students will be asked to:
a. Read the poem “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman
b. Analyze and discuss the work in class
c. Analyze the way the poem was written including its meter, rhyme pattern and use of figurative language
d. Write their own version of “Song of Myself” referring to their own life using the sonnet rhyme pattern, stressed/unstressed syllables, one metaphor, one simile and one use of personification
e. Access their page on Wikibooks and upload their work
f. Read all of their classmates’ works on Wikibooks and comment, constructively, on same
6. What are the procedures of the project (steps to teach the technology skills):
a. Introduction of the Whitman Poem
b. Analysis of the poem within historical and cultural context
c. Discussion of the poem line by line with focus on meter, rhyme pattern, figurative language and meaning
d. Instructor will introduce the concept of wikis and showcase both Wikispaces and Wikibooks; instructor will ask each student to become member of class projects and, in the case of Wikibooks, will give students personal user name and password. One-sheet best practices and FAQs will be handed out as well
e. Draft of personal version of “Song of Myself” to be uploaded to class wiki on Wikispaces
f. Instructor will comment on and edit personal version on class wiki; once reviewed and finalized, student will access their personal page on Wikibooks and upload their final poem
g. Student will comment upon each of their classmates’ work on Wikibooks; comments should be constructive
7. What are the advantages of the project: The advantages of the project include class collaboration, reading and analysis of a major piece of American literature, redrafting of the literary work to ensure student engagement, class creation of an online textbook that can be showcased to the entire community and an understanding of how to interact and work with a group.
8. What are the disadvantages of the project: The disadvantageous include the usual ones associated with a wiki including the fear that others can edit and leave inappropriate comments, that students may not be comfortable showcasing their work in an open environment and potential violation of community rules.
9. What types of effective instructional strategies are included: Effective instructional strategies include:
a. Use of Bloom’s Taxonomy
b. Use of Bruner’s Constructivist theory as applied to instruction
c. Metacognition – the ability to plan, monitor and evaluate
d. Student-centered activity – the activity allows the student to create the ultimate work
e. Differentiation – allows for each student to be reviewed/graded based upon their own work versus the work of the whole
f. Feedback – allows for class and instructor feedback in an open environment
g. Team based learning – although the students are asked to create their own poems, they learn as a team how to create a work
h. Critical thinking – can take another’s work and put it own words
i. Collective Intelligence – showcases that together our minds can create something worthwhile
j. Learning community – the community works together towards one goal
k. Project based learning – the class has a series of steps to take to come to one final outcome
10. What are the possibilities that the innovation can be transferred to other teachers, subject content, and different school settings: This innovation can easily be transferred to any type of curriculum, age group or topic as it is easy to use, involves free online resources, and utilizes numerous pedagogical theories.
Lesson 2: The Student as Teacher
1. A brief description of the lesson plan: Using Wikiversity, students will be asked to create their own lesson plan based upon the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor.
2. The technology and resources involved (e.g. facility, network, equipment, software, online program, website’s URL): the college’s network, computers, and the resources available at http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/.
3. What skills, knowledge, and pedagogy are required of teachers: Instructors should have a sense of the following:
a. How a wiki works
b. The goal of the class project
c. Ability to utilize Web 2.0 tools including the wiki site
d. Understanding of collaboration tools
e. Student-centered learning and active learning
f. Rules for the class including how to comment on other student’s work and how to revise and edit their own work
4. What prior skills and knowledge are required of students: Students must:
a. Be able to read and analyze a literary work
b. Be able to create a lesson plan that showcases the important elements of the work including theme, conflict, climax and resolution
c. Be able to use a wiki to create a lesson plan including resources for dissemination to their classmates
5. What are students asked to do exactly (product or process): Students will:
a. Read the short story “A Good Man is Hard to Find”
b. Analyze the story in class including a review of theme, character, setting, climax, conflict and resolution
c. Create a written lesson plan to be reviewed by instructor and a defined peer group
d. Finalize lesson plan and upload to class learning project page (for further information go to http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Portal:Learning_Projects
e. Present lesson plan to class
6. What are the procedures of the project (steps to teach the technology skills):
a. Introduction to Wikiversity via overview of site and creation of learning project page
b. One-sheet that introduces relevant facts concerning use of wiki
c. Overview of editing of wiki including hyper linking and resource creation
d. Review of wiki use and tools via in class clicker test
7. What are the advantages of the project: The project will allow the student to become the expert, the instructor. This type of project gives the student a sense of credibility, respect and responsibility.
8. What are the disadvantages of the project: The disadvantageous include the usual ones associated with a wiki including the fear that others can edit and leave inappropriate comments, that students may not be comfortable showcasing their work in an open environment and potential violation of community rules.
9. What types of effective instructional strategies are included:
a. Active learning – student becomes teacher
b. Student-centered learning – student leads the activity and the class
c. Thoughtful learning – activity based learning that puts responsibility in students’ hands
d. Retrieval or a stimulation that allows recall of prior learning
e. Enhancement of retention and transfer
f. Use of Bloom’s Taxonomy
g. Practical application
10. What are the possibilities that the innovation can be transferred to other teachers, subject content, and different school settings: This type of project is really meant for higher level education such as 11th/12th grade and/or college as there is a need for maturity and a sense of responsibility; without either a student would be unable to create a lesson plan that effectively disseminates the information. However, instructors could use a lesson such as this (tweaked) for younger students using a simplified project base.
i. http://ndphotokf.blogspot.com/
b. StateUniversity.com article on blogging in higher education:
i. http://www.stateuniversity.com/blog/permalink/Technology-in-the-College-Classroom.html
Searching for Innovative Uses of Technology:
An Individual Project
By Ellen Feig
Case #1
1. Reference information: Collaboration @ Blake: All Things Collaboration and Innovation in Higher Education at cloud.lib.wfu.edu/blog
2. Professor Stephanie Pellet created classroom blogs and wikis for her French classes.
3. Professor Pellet used the blog to facilitate online class discussion and open collaboration.
4. Wake Forest University Cloud to create blog
5. Students were not required to have any prior skills; Pellet distributed a handout which outlined goals, steps and tips to the class on how to use both resources.
6. Students were asked to post reports on cultural figures (i.e. Celine Dion), embed videos and photos and respond to posts of colleagues.
7. Pellet gave the students an outline which listed tips on using the resources.
8. The project is advantageous as it helps students write and converse virtually in French which gives them important practice in the area.
9. The disadvantage to the project is that the layout of the blog is a bit cumbersome and lengthy, requiring students to scroll.
10. Effective instructional strategies include:
a. Collaboration
b. Practice in language and written skills
c. Communication
d. Ability to use and work in blog space
11. The innovation is easily transferable as blogs are simple to set up, easy for students to use and work with; in addition, language teachers can use this type of project for any language taught.
12. Other resources/articles used included:
a. Wake Forest University course on Pause Culture Francophone des Etudiants at cloud.lib.wfu.edu/blog/pauseculture
b. Web 2.0 in the Classroom at http://www.web20intheclassroom.blogspot.com/2008/01/blogging-in-classroom-why-how-and-lots.html
Case #2
1. Barnet College, School of Arts, UK. http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/page.aspx?o=288577
2. Curriculum manager Phil Butterworth created a simple blog system for the school that allowed students to showcase their work virtually.
3. Professor Sarah Lloyd Winter has made the blog a mandatory part of her Media Design course; students upload their work for assessment.
4. Creation of blog template on the campus network
5. Although the initial class of students were not required to have any skill set, Winters has found that all of her entering students have some idea of what a blog is and how to use it.
6. Students are asked to upload their videos, films and artwork to the blog. They may also make use of online resources including YouTube.
7. The steps involved include an overview of the class blog, a discussion of appropriate use and review.
8. Winters finds that students who don’t speak English as their first language or students with certain special needs love to use the blog as it allows them to express themselves without fear; she asked them to create a digital sketchbook where they wrote about themselves.
9. There are very few disadvantages to this method; the only one is a concern that students may be harshly critical causing emotional harm.
10. Effective instructional strategies include:
a. Use of resources specific to Media Studies (the class in question)
b. Inclusion of all students, including those with special needs
c. Assessment of work by faculty and students
d. Analysis and comprehension of modes of digital design
e. Creation of digital portfolio
11. Blogs are easy to create and easy to use so this type of project can be transferred to any academic institution and any age of student.
12. Other resources used:
a. Example of blog created by Barnet College faculty:
i. http://ndphotokf.blogspot.com/
b. StateUniversity.com article on blogging in higher education:
i. http://www.stateuniversity.com/blog/permalink/Technology-in-the-College-Classroom.html
