Getting started...   Let’s begin by updating the KWL chart—a simple change, but relevant.  We know that new knowledges are built on existing knowledge, so it makes sense to tap into students’ prior knowledge when beginning any unit of instruction.  How do teachers adapt the idea behind the KWL chart, for example, so that it becomes a 21st century learning tool?  I’m sure there are many ideas (please share); my beginning place might be to create a classroom wiki or a classroom wikibook.  This allows students to collaborate and create—two attributes of 21st century learners—while tapping existing knowledge and leveling the playing field for those that need schema. It will also introduce students to online culture and etiquette—also relevant to 21st century learning…

But what if you do not have easy access to computers?  21st century teaching should not be solely about technology… Students can still work collaboratively to create a working product without technology that equally demonstrates prior knowledge, builds on that knowledge in a collaborative way, allows for student-inquiry, and allows for development of an information-sharing culture amongst learners, while allowing teachers to assess student performance and growth of understanding over a period of time.  One idea might be to use a bulletin board as the vehicle in which students develop a classroom wiki—encourage students to use a variety of texts and artifacts… 

Another idea might be to have students work in smaller groups to collaborate and create a product that demonstrates their collective knowledge, the questions they have about the topic, and what they learn as they progress through a unit of instruction.  Remember, students should be developing questions and finding the answers--student driven…  Innovative ideas to replace KWL also might be to use a variety of Web 2.0 tools—blogs, podcasts, vodcasts, etc…  The primary objectives should be to have students working collaboratively, sharing knowledge, asking their own questions to build knowledge…

 


Comments

Cristi
07/18/2008 18:44

Thanks very much for your interesting post. I am a masters student in education and we just talked about the use of wikis in the classroom today. It sounds like a great tool! I started imagining how I could let the students create a class wiki in which we continually build on our knowledge as we move through a unit of instruction. I like the "history" function of the wiki since this will allow students to see how far they have come in their knowledge. Seems like a great tool for building a sense of community in the classroom too.

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Nicole
07/19/2008 07:33

Here are some additional ideas for wiki use from www.writingwiki.org:

* Provide a space for free writing
* Debate course topics, including assigned readings
* Share resources such as annotated bibliographies, websites, effective writing samples, conferences, calls for manuscripts
* Maintain a journal of work performed on group projects
* Require students to collaborate on documents, such as an essay written by the entire class
* Discuss curricular and instructional innovations
* Encourage students to revise Wikipedia pages or take on new wikipedia assignments
* Inspire students to write a Wikibook
* Support service learning projects (i.e. use wikis to build a website about a challenge in their city)

Once you get started on your classroom wiki, be sure to let us know how it is working for your students! Great point--the "history" function will allow the teacher to assess student learning in an authentic form--an excellent measure of student learning... And please share any other ideas with us that you develop during your masters program that you think might be relevant to other teachers working to shift their practices to meet the needs of 21st century learners...
Best regards... Nicole

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