Making the Most of Wikis in Your Science or Math Classroom

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