Wikis+in+the+Science+Class


 * Addressing Science Skills with Wikis **
 * < * Writing and communication skills
 * Critical Thinking
 * Effective use of technology tools
 * Creating tables and graphs ||< * Sharing ideas and lab results
 * Organization
 * Problem solving
 * Analyzing data
 * Navigating the Internet ||< * Defining questions and planning experiments
 * Creativity
 * Collaboration
 * Synthesizing information from several sources ||

** The "One Computer" Classroom ** Example A wiki page can function as an on-line classroom journal. Give one student the job of summarizing a lab activity, interviewing other students, recording the notes, typing the answers to class review questions or taking a picture to add to the page. In no time at all, the page will serve as a valuable resource for your class. ** Research Projects or On-line Science Fair **  Example A wiki page can also be used to host student research projects. Each student can be given a page on which to post their research, links, and their final project. The project can be an embedded presentation (Google Presentation,) a Voice Thread, a podcast, or a report. ** Use Wikis with Lab Groups ** Example If there are enough computers available, one computer can be placed at each lab table for the group to share. With their own wiki accounts, students can log in and make changes to their lab group page. In this setting, lab groups can contribute their ideas and results and then read the reports and notes of the other groups in their class and in other classes. ** Differentiating Instruction **  Example An ambitious group of students suggested that they make their own wiki during our unit on Energy Alternatives. They enjoyed developing the design of the wiki and during class worked on research and communicating their ideas.
 * Absent students can find out what they missed.
 * Parents can get to know more about the class.
 * Use the wiki page to review the lessons before a test.
 * Build a sense of classroom community.
 * Create a different page for each section and have the students in one class compare their ideas with those of the students in another class.
 * Start an on-line science fair. Create a template and copy it to a wiki page for each student so their research is organized and easy to check. Provide a page of links to help students find research topics.
 * Students who need enrichment can conduct independent research and post it on their own page of the class wiki.
 * Organize a research project. Make one page for the guidelines and give each student a page to record their research and post their projects.
 * Lab groups can upload their lab results as summaries, tables, or graphs.
 * Students can quickly compare their results with those of other lab groups.
 * During an activity, students can take pictures and upload them to the wiki.
 * Some students prefer to use Microsoft Word or Power Point and then upload the document.
 * Students can save hyperlinks to web sites for background information or research notes.
 * Consider using a wiki to organize and follow any student who requires enrichment opportunities.
 * Creating a wiki from scratch rather than adding on to our class wiki made these students feel very independent.
 * Students from several different classes were able to collaborate without ever working in the same room.
 * Students can work on wikis at many different levels so they feel less pressured and enjoy working at their own pace.