easy design, transformative results: wiki-based digital writing portfolios
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Jeff MattisonCATESOL OaklandApril 13, 2012
Easy Design, Transformative Results:
Wiki-Based Digital Writing Portfolios
Outline
Background on Wikis
My School Environment
Wiki as Writing Portfolio
Privacy Concerns
Best Practices
Demonstration
Conclusions
Questions and Answers
My School Environment
Suburban setting
98% English Language Learners50% LTELL
40% RFEP
8% Newcomer
Middle Grades 7 & 8
Netbook Academy2nd year of pilot project
150 of 834 students have daily access in 4 content classes
Another 200 students have access in at least 1 content class
Audience Needs Assessment
What is your:School setting
Level of students
Experience with a wiki?
Partner shareI came to this session because I would like to...
Background
Definition (a la wiktionary.org)Wiki: A collaborative website which can be directly edited using only a web browser, often by anyone with access to it.
Derived from the Hawaiian word, wiki, meaning very fast
Example Hosting Siteswikispaces.com
pbworks.com
wikidot.com
Wikispaces.com
AdvantagesFree for educators
No ads or banners
No email address required for student users
Able to create many users at once
rm301authors.wikispaces.com
Qualitative Student Impressions
Quantitative Students Impressions
Average scores on a 5-point Likert scale, N = 96(1=strongly disagree, 5=strongly agree) 4.18 Writing with classmates using the wiki is more helpful than writing alone on paper
4.09 The wiki was easy to edit my composition when I needed to make changes
4.02 The wiki was easy to use to type my composition
3.89 I write better using the wiki than I do when I write on notebook paper
3.76 I enjoyed using the wiki to write my composition
3.59 My writing improved when a classmate or teacher made a comment through the wiki
Using a Wiki for a Writing Portfolio
BenefitsCloud storage, no papers or USBs
Accessible for peer & teacher feedback
In text comments pinpoint revision & edit needs
Draft changes saved
Increased opportunities to talk about writing
ChallengesDigital learning curve
Text editing glitchy, limited
Member integritySabotage
Plagiarism
Young Learner
Privacy Concerns
DOGive students unique passwords
Restrict public access to wiki
Require all users to login before editing
DON'TReveal full names of students
Disclose school location or name
Post pictures of students without parent permission
Best Practices
Class ManagementStudent # as page name
Bulk user creator
Wiki OrganizationMap out design tree
Use templates like worksheets
Use tags to group pages
CollaborationPair students until community develops
Teacher sets the tone
Learner TrainingExplicity teach wiki skills
Contract for user expectations
Conclusion
Consider your own and students' tech skills to decide how to structure your wiki
Support and encourage students to interact with writing and each other via wiki tools
Initial learning curve takes time, but wiki saves time in draft process
Wiki enhances the writing process at each step with collaborative tools
Questions and Answers
Partner Share...What has your experience been in designing collaborative group work around writing, with or without the use of technology?
One question I still have about using a wiki for a writing portfolio is...
Thank you for coming!
Presenter contact information:[email protected]
WikisPresenter's Classwww.rm301authors.wikispaces.com
Presentation Example
http://tinyurl.com/wikiplfo