Building a Wiki

Why a wiki? For my students, it's another genre of writing they can try and see how writing or publishing on the web is different from a print out. Their intent to inform, persuade or entertain with their writing can be the same but then it can grow. Looking back on our wiki project, I can see why it took so long from what I had planned.

This project really is the last part of 4 areas. I was inspired by Linda Christensen's work in Reading-Writing-and Rising Up and her presentation for the National Writing Project's ELL Network at UCLA last fall. My immigrant students didn't understand why the noose is a historical symbol of racial hatred in America. So I linked current events with history to make it relevant. First -What happened to the Jena 6? Why is the noose is a historical symbol of racial hatred. Do read about it happening today? Second-How did slavery come to America. Third-How did slavery spread in America. Then to our wiki project -How did slavery end in America?

In the final project, they chose their topic and looked for at least one print source and 3 online sources from our district's database. They also could check out Wikipedia to see how it was shown as a wiki but not as a source. They all knew the site so well, but not how to use online databases. Comparing the 3 types of sources was part of this first step into the project. They look different but do they act differently? (Note: for ELL's, printing an online article can be easier to analyze since they can highlight, make notes in margins and "code the text" easier. Kylene Beers has some great strategies to share. I have her book dogeared all over.)

Selecting and critically reading articles was a new skill but worthwhile. They were managing their learning and it was timely. Our school librarian was a big help in training on the database. I roamed and asked questions about the article and their topic, hoping they might internalize this questioning. I told them if they are talking to themselves, then they are on track. So before they even go to notetaking, gathering sources and reading critically was the skill we developed so that was where the time went in the beginning. They asked for more time and got it.

Speaking About Soul Teaching

http://picasaweb.google.com/georgemichelle.ohanian/AgnesMeyerSpeech/photo#5198018534966423298

I was asked to speak on behalf of teachers winning the Agnes Meyer award at the Washington Post on May 1, 2008. I've received requests to share the video, so here it is. If we clear away the labels put on our students and the subjects we teach, then what's left is people helping people grow and learn together.

Toying with Wiki's (or knock offs)

This is my retreat into reflecting upon what it means to teach soul to soul among the perceptions of those in and out of the ELL classroom. How do I perceive myself as a digital learner, or whatever the term is today at this nano second screaming by.

Since teaching in urban, near-urban, suburban areas with elementary, middle, high school and now alternative students, I ask myself what do I know? Writing isn’t enough, it’s where it goes. I used to hear that publishing was going public with writing for my students, but now the Internet is changing that. One of my ELL students froze-eyes-glazed-over-fingers-curled at the keyboard when she tried her first blog posting. How do they go from reading a draft for an audience of six student to sending it out there to faceless critics?

How do I help my Ell’s, with laptops open, asking me, “But Miss, my hyperlinks not working today but did yesterday. Why?” Then I hear, ” Miss, Miss, come here, I don’t get this.” And the defiance to the general concept of research let alone a wiki, “Miss, I’m not citing sources on my wiki, why do it, can’t I just cut and paste it all? It is faster.” What part of my professional education prepared me for how to use these digital toys with the aim of supporting my students’ second language (L2) acquisition?
Is it naive, daring or wasteful to say to my students, “Hey, lets make a wiki of our research and it will change as your ideas and learning change. How does that sound?” My students follow my lead. They nor I were award that other students were already doing this around the country. One day I tripped upon The Fischbowl and found a 100 wikified research pages. That was humbling. I was back in my preschool pottery class where all clay turned to ashtrays at my touch and the princess next to me was crafting knockoff Ming vases.

So my students are creating their wiki’s in Blackboard which is the equivalent of a clay ashtray. This in no way denigrates the dedication my ELL students have to learning about these wiki’s. I am amazed they are sticking with it despite the limited flash factor of Blackboard compared with the wikis they viewed on wikispaces.

Next year, I will take the advice of a National Writing Project Teacher Consultant from North Carolina who was showing blogging as a genre at the Rural Sites conference, “When it comes to trying out new technology ask for forgiveness instead of permission.”