Stretch Activity: Wikipedia
I had fun checking out Wikipedia and looking at the discussion and history tabs. I looked up ring-tailed lemurs. Having studied them for an intensive project in college (and having spent a ridiculous number of hours observing them), I decided this would be a good topic to look at when assessing the validity of a Wikipedia page.
The information on the page is valid and well-written. There are sections describing the physical characteristics of ring-tails, their habits and diet, and their natural history. It even included a description of “stink fights,” which are hilarious to watch. I was happy to see a link to the Duke Lemur Center, which is a fantastic place to visit. I am surprised that there was no information about why lemurs are the only primates, other than humans, in Madagascar and why lemurs do not exist in the wild in any other place in the world (Gondwanaland, not much competition/predation in Madagascar, etc.). Perhaps this information is included on a main lemur page… I’ll have to check.
I looked at the discussion and history tabs to find out more about the page’s progress over time. Most of the discussion on the page was about the photographs matching the information and the captions used. One person felt that there were too many photographs and that the captions did not match the photographs. One photo showed lemurs huddling, but the caption mentioned their alarm calls. At the time, alarm calls were not mentioned in the article itself. Additionally, there was some debate over a part of the article mentioning the only recorded attack of a ring-tailed lemur on a human in the United States. Captive ring-tails have been known to bite humans, so a contributer mentioned that this line may be removed. Looking at the history provided some insights into the changes made in the article. For instance, the terms “toilet claw” and “tooth comb” were added to clarify a physical description of the ring-tailed lemur.
I enjoyed looking at the Wikipedia site. Not only did I get to revisit one of my favorite animals and get a blast from the past, but I got more insight into the valuable nature of collaboration.
Here is a funny (bad quality) photo of a friend and I at Duke Lemur Center:
Here is a photo of some of the lemurs from my study of captive ring-tailed lemurs (so cute):
Thing 7: It’s a Wiki Wiki World
I was very impressed by all of the wikis I visited. I loved the idea of the Code Blue wiki. I think creating a wiki medical clinic for students learning about the human body is so clever. This approach seemed to create a sense of ownership for the students. I love the fact that different students worked for different clinics and had their own medical specialties. I have visited the Go West wiki on westward expansion before, and I was equally impressed when I visited it this time. I like the fact that the teachers involved posted a reflection on their wiki experience. I would love to read reflections by the students who participated. I’m sure they enjoyed the experience and learned so much! I love the “Turn Homeward, Hanalee” wiki. This gave me so many ideas for creating a literature study for third grade. Wow!
I would love to have a wiki in my future. That is one of my goals. The Turn Homeward, Hanalee wiki gave me some great ideas! I would love to have my students work on a wiki for a couple of the books we read during the year. I think the meaning-making aspect of creating the wiki would boost comprehension immensely. The collaborative nature of wikis make them very appealing for use within my classroom. Both the Code Blue and Go West wikis have inspired me to use a wiki to cover content-area learning. I have been thinking about creating a Titanic wiki for a couple of years, and this is something I plan to pursue. Not only will my students learn so much through the process, but they will be so proud of their own work!
I like the organization of material on the wikis. The table of contents section on each wiki makes them easy to navigate. I like the variety of media used in the wikis. This allows students to experience the material in many ways. Wikis encompass so many learning goals. Students may do research, define vocabulary, demonstrate understanding/comprehension, and synthesize information. At first the thought of creating a wiki may seem daunting – my students (and I) will need some coaching at the beginning of the wiki process. After some consideration, I think the wiki will be just like our blog…once we get started, we’ll have it down in no time at all!
I am eager to get going on my wikis! 
Stretch Activity: Google News
I’m glad I tried using Google News to create a custom feed. One of the searches I performed was for “Senteo,” as I had recently used these great gadgets with my students. I got a fun interview (Student Spotlight) from the Philadelphia Inquirer. Tina Sweeley, an elementary school teacher, was describing her use of literacy centers in her classroom. She mentions that at least one of her literacy centers always has a technology component. Sweeley explains that she has access to a SMART Board, laptop carts, Leapsters, and Senteos. Sweeley goes on to say that she includes technology to maintain student interest, as well as to provide a strong foundation for her students.
I enjoyed this article because I am working to create literacy stations in my own classroom. It is important for me to make technology an integral part of my students’ literacy experiences. This article has motivated me to continue to think about how literacy centers may be implemented successfully in my classroom.
K12 Learning 2.0 | Comment (0)Thing 6: Using Google Reader
Wow! Google Reader is amazing. At first, I felt overwhelmed at the amount of information I was receiving, but I am able to go through the feeds quickly to “star” items of interest.
I particularly enjoyed reading “Blogging: A Day in the Life of” by Mr. Martin. Since I have had the pleasure of starting a blog with my students, I eagerly look for new ways for them to use this great tool. Recently, I collaborated on a project with Nneka in which my students created Vokis and used them to give one minute book “teasers.” The kids loved this activity, and (even with spring break and lazy days in the sun looming) they asked if they could do another one on Friday. Isn’t it great when the kids are begging to work and learn?
Back to my original topic — it is activities such as these that I’m seeking in order to make the blog even more appealing for the children. On Mr. Martin’s blog, I discovered some great ideas for expanding my class blog. He mentions that students may assume the identities of famous people, and they may write and answer questions on the blog. Coincidentally, not long after reading his article, our wonderful instructional technology geniuses approached the third grade teachers about a project similar to this one. I usually have each student assume the role of a Titanic passenger or crew member during our study of the Titanic disaster. They create journals in which they document their time on the ship and details of that fateful night. I was thrilled about their idea of making this a blog activity. This would give the children the opportunity to respond to one another and ask questions.
Another great idea Mr. Martin had was for the teacher to play James Lipton (from The Actor’s Studio). A small group of students would assume the role of a famous person, and they would answer broad questions asked by the teacher. The children could also ask one another questions, opening up a discussion of topics they have studied. This activity would be great for expanding a biography project.
I loved Mr. Martin’s idea of having the students create a “class character.” Students would take turns writing posts as the character, providing a “Day in the Life” journal of the school year. What a clever way to create a time line of events within a classroom! I have a class teddy bear named Nomad. Children take him on trips, write in his journal, and bring back photos of his journeys. I am thinking of using Nomad as the class character next year, asking students to take turns writing from Nomad’s perspective. He could give clever commentary on how things are going in our energetic third grade class.
All of these ideas have my head spinning! I can’t wait to get started on the Titanic collaboration, and I am looking forward to incorporating some new ideas in order to expand our blog even more. I love Google Reader! Now, I can keep up with the great ideas out there!
K12 Learning 2.0 | Comments (2)