Posted by David Wetzel
Wikis are the most popular Web 2.0 tool being used in science and math classrooms. Based on a survey of readers – 45 percent use them to support their teaching and student learning.
A Wiki is appealing, encourages participation, supports collaboration, and promotes interaction by students who love to use technology.
By the way – this includes most students today!
The following are a collection of ideas and strategies for using Wikis in your classroom!
Both Science and Math Classrooms
Specific pages within a Wiki may include:
Study Guides – these are created by you or assigned to groups of students. Examples include study guides for chapters, units, or semester exams.
Podcasts – like everything dealing with education technology in the classroom there are always tips and tricks to ensure success – this includes Podcasting!
WebQuests – an inquiry-oriented online lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web.
Projects – both a collection of resources for students and an online tool for facilitating completion of project based learning activities. This includes teacher created and online project resources such as the National Math Trail and Global Water Sampling Project.
Tips for Students – this includes are variety of ways for helping students, such as tips for:
- creating and uploading a podcast.
- using and uploading Google Docs.
- using WallWisher.
- uploading images.
- creating links to pages within the Wiki or external resources on the web.
- frequently asked questions regarding classroom and homework procedures.
Careers – a selection of teacher or student interviews of people currently employed in careers related to science or math. This may include written statements from professionals who are given the same set of questions to answer, along with online links to career resources.
Math Classrooms
Specific pages within a Math Wiki may include:
Calculus – a collection of problem solving exercises for students to collaboration in solving.
Algebra – a collection of problems for students practice such as inequalities, linear equations, quadratic formula, or graphing.
Graphing Calculator – tips and tricks for using graphing calculators. Also may include a links to an online graphing calculator.
Real World Math – a page for students to write about and/or provide examples of places where they actually used math outside the classroom.
Class Notes – a collection of step-by-step procedures used in class to solve math problems such as multiplying fractions, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, or calculus.
Science Classrooms
Specific pages within a Science Wiki may include:
Glossary – a collection of scientific terms with illustrations and definitions added by students using Flickr and other non-copyright resources. This may also include online links to detailed information.
Taxonomy – classification of a variety of organisms by kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
Experimental Design – procedures and steps for following the experimental design process such as defining independent variable, dependent variable, control variables, or developing experimental questions.
Discrepant Events – sample videos or procedures for students to follow when completing discrepant events, which allow students to witness scientific events with unexpected outcomes.
Field Observations – sample procedures for collecting water data at local streams, weather observation data, wildlife observation data, or collecting plant data.
Concept Descriptions – a written or pictorial description of scientific processes such as earthquakes, water cycle, friction, pollination, ozone depletion, light, rock cycle, physical and chemical properties, force, and photosynthesis.
Chemistry Equations – procedures and practice for learning how to balance chemical equations. This may also provide links to web resources for student help.
Physics – a list of formulas and equations, along with step by step-by-step procedures for solving. This may also provide links to web resources for student help.
The time is right as you close out this school year and have the summer to build a dynamic Wiki in preparation for next year or make changes to your current class Wiki to include these and other ideas. Your students will benefit from the integration of this Web 2.0 tool in your classroom, as they develop a greater understanding of math or science.
Additional Resources
Using Wikis in Math Class
Using Wikis in Science Class
Posted by David Wetzel
How many times have you prepared an updated or new dynamic math or science PowerPoint or Keynote presentation for class and it would not open in school?
Also, how many times has it happened to your students when it’s time to give a class presentation? Now you need to postpone their presentation to another day, disrupting even the best planning.
You or your students do everything right – use compatible software, save it on a jump or flash drive, and it still would not open!
You think, well I will just open an older version of the presentation using Google Docs! You prepare to give your lesson – Bam! Google Docs is acting up or someone made a mistake and now your school is blocking Google Docs today!
When it rains it pours!
Solution: SlideShare
Now there is an alternative to the problems experienced above. How to overcome these problems is by using SlideShare – which is free!
This Web 2.0 tool allows you to upload presentations from PowerPoint, Keynote, OpenOffice, and Google Docs Presentation.
You can also embed these presentations in a class blog or wiki. This offers the ability to open your presentation on the class wiki or blog and give your lesson.
A good feature is the ability to embed appropriate YouTube or Teacher Tube videos within a presentation. This feature is a way of circumventing your school’s website blocking software.
You can even add audio to your presentations, to spice up a presentation and help hold your students’ interest.
You can even upload documents for creating slide presentations. SlideShare accepts documents from MS Word, iWork, Google Docs, PDF, and OpenOffice.
SlideShare also offers a new video feature which allows you to upload and share videos. They strictly enforce video copyright laws.
This Web 2.0 tool is also useful for professional development classes and workshops. You can share your presentations and student work without worrying about software compatibility issues.
Implementation: Strategies for Use in Science or Math Classes
Besides supporting teachers, SlideShare offers the ability for an individual or group of students to open their own account.
After creating a presentation for class, they can upload it to their own blog or class wiki. If these two options are not available, they can e-mail the link to their presentation to themselves or write down the link.
When students are absent, they can view a your presentations on the class blog or wiki. You also have the option to e-mail the link to absent student(s).
In classrooms using the one-to-one computer programs, students can access the SlideShare presentation on their computers and teachers free to roam the classroom ensuring students and following the presentation slides.
Students can use the presentations embedded on blogs or wikis as study guides when preparing for tests.
Uploading: Transferring Files
Several options are offered for uploading presentation or documents files. Examples include:
Firefox Universal FireUploader – offers a free Firefox plug-in for uploading files from your computer using a simple drag & drop interface. You can also edit the file details, set privacy, etc.
SlideShare Ribbon for Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 – is a free plugin for PowerPoint 2007. It lets you use most features of SlideShare from within PowerPoint. You can download and upload files.
This Web 2.0 tool offers the ability to overcome common problems both teachers and students have when giving presentations in class. This tool also provides the ability to eliminate the often used phrase - fear of using technology in the classroom. After spending time preparing a dynamic presentation providing a another level for overcoming technical difficulties are worth the effort.
Also, students are giving another way to prepare their class presentations. Eliminating often heard excuses of forgetting their jump drive at home, they lost their jump drive, or the dog ate it.
Additional Resources
PowerPoint Presentations Beyond Note Taking
Why Use Web 2.0 Tools When Teaching Science and Math?
Posted by David Wetzel
Both wikis and blogs provide teachers with a a dynamic process for integrating Web 2.0 technology in their science and math classes. These two types of online tools offer students a more engaging process for learning.
Both are relatively easy tools which do not require teachers or students to learn any special program tools or computer skills. Their uses and applications are only limited by the vision and purpose for helping students learn.
Which One: Points to Ponder in the Selection Process
Let’s take a look at the selection process. The following are points to consider about both.
Blogs – Why do you think a blog is better to use with your students?
- Consideration for subject teaching. Providing hints and tips, along with links to resources such as problems of the week or math projects may mean a blog is better suited for math. On the other hand, if the purpose is to provide information and resources without student interaction – then a blog is best, regardless the subject.
- Consideration must be on how to establish privacy options and commenting rules? All information on a blog is accessible by anyone on the Internet. Consideration must be given to confidentially rules and ensuring students use an assigned code when submitting comments.
- Consideration of time – blogging consumes time, although less time than a wiki. How much time do you have to commit?
Wikis – Why do you think a wiki is better to use with your students?
- Consideration for who owns the information on the wiki, especially since it is a collaborative effort. This must be stipulated on the wiki for all to read – for example establishing a Creative Commons License.
- Consideration for student group interaction – there may be a need for setting boundaries and rules for collaboration.
- Consideration for privacy is not an issue. Teachers can limit access to a wiki to students only or both students and parents. Teachers can also limit access to selected areas of a wiki. One example is students in one class section cannot view the work of other class sections.
- Consideration for time – wikis require more time for implementation and moderating than a blog.
A Comparison
When selecting a wiki or blog, two factors separate them. A wiki typically results in a product created and used by many. While a blog is a process, which results in a product created by one and used by many.
Blog - let’s take a look at the blog process:
- Single author – personal viewpoint
- Information on a blog is static
- Opinions offered by the author
- Links are provided to outside resources or other posts
- Chronological content, i.e., posts, comments, responses to comments
- Comments provided by readers
- Posts are designed to offer information sharing, how to, cause critical thinking, or show a change in thinking
Wiki - let’s take a look at why a wiki is considered a product:
- Multiple authors – a collaborative view or sharing of information
- Information is webbed among the users – knowledge sharing
- Page(s) are edited or changed and new pages can be added anytime
- Links to outside resources or other pages
- Synthesis of collected information gathering and research
- Construction of knowledge by authors
- Shows change in writing by authors
- Option for many pages which are topic or content specific
Since both offer low cost or free options – wikis for education (WikiSpaces or PBWiki) and blogs (Edublogs, WordPress, or Blogger) – this factor are not addressed.
The Benefits
Both offer benefits for teachers and students and include:
- Supports the development of writing skills
- Diverse perspectives and communication
- Motivation authors and students
- Engagement of authors and students
- Supports higher order thinking skills
Teachers – specific ease of use benefits include:
- Posting of assignments, course guide or syllabus, projects, announcements (wikis)
- Advice, resources, and guidelines (blogs)
- Ease of communication with parents (wikis)
- Assignment submission by students (wikis)
- Class and lab safety rules (wikis)
Students – specific ease of use benefits include:
- Reflections on assignments (blog)
- Sharing of information, resources, or links (blog or wiki)
- Synthesis of Research (wiki)
- Reflective Journal (wiki)
- Writing Journal (blog or wiki)
Regardless if you select a wiki or blog for your class, the important points to consider are it must have a specific purpose and strategies for engaging students.
Whichever one you select to use – wiki or blog, the time is right as you close out this school year and have the summer to build a dynamic blog or wiki in preparation for next year.
If you already have experience with one or both, consider sharing lessons learned with other readers.
