Is My Wiki Idea Too Ambitious?

Global Awareness...a new FCPS Initiative (Some background, first.)
There is this big Global Awareness project for fifth graders in Fairfax County that started this year. It involves them selecting one of eight questions to answer, such as "What is the impact over time of geography on a culture’s involvement in global exchange of ideas, goods, and services?" Pretty deep thinking, right? In groups of 3-4 students, they will do research to answer this question. Then, they will display their answer using a technology tool, such as PowerPoint, Inspiration, PhotoStory, etc.

My Brilliant/Ambitious(?) Idea
So, what if I was to start a Wiki with my class where they could add content about the various ancient civilizations they've learned about this year for an additional research tool that all of fifth grade could use when they start their global awareness projects? (Their research for these projects will probably start in mid-March, so we have about a month.) I could do it a couple ways...either put them in groups where they take turns each week adding content about a specific civilization (Mesopotamia, Ancient China, Ancient Rome, etc., etc.) or put them in groups to add content about all the cultures for four different topics related to the four questions the teachers selected for them to choose from: Geography, Government, Leaders, Art. The groups could rotate each week to a different topic or civilization to give them a chance to add more information and/or edit or revise what another group already put in. They have interactive notebooks that they could use to gather the info. they add to this wiki. We could set this up with the free wikispaces site and make it password protected.

My Excitement about Wikis
I couldn't help but get excited about this idea while reading Richardson's book. I especially like how he noted, "the concept that everyone together is smarter than anyone else alone" (p.57). That is so true! I think that's what makes this Wiki tool so great--everyone must be a critical reader to get it right; true collaborative work! Richardson's book has opened my eyes to the positive aspects of this tool. In going to Wikipedia for various purposes since I first found out about it years ago, I have to admit that I was skeptical about the accuracy of the information (with the understanding that anyone can add to or edit it). However, the CEO of Apple has called the most famous Wiki (Wikipedia) "one of the most accurate encyclopedias in the world" (p.59), so it has great potential in adding to our wealth of knowledge. What a cool experiement that was conducted to see how fast thirteen errors would be changed on Wikipedia. Corrected in a matter of hours--truly amazing! More people really do want to get it right than those who want to corrupt this information outlet.

Calling All Snow (Day) Lovers

Thought you might enjoy this blog that I enjoy reading in the wintertime, as I hope/anticipate potential for a snowday: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/ Posts are made by weather forecasters in our area. I especially like how they have the "Snow Lover's Crystal Ball," which appears when potential for accumulating snow is coming. The "Schoolcast" is cute, too, because it shows apples as a rating system to indicate if a snow day is imminent. For example, one apple means "Do your homework. You're probably having school." Three apples is really good because it tells students "It's probably safe to blow off the homework, but your day off will be more enjoyable if you do it now." (I'll especially be tuning into this one on Monday.) Happy reading.

Blogging about Blogging...Really?!

So, how excited am I to get on and blog about blogging? I have to be very honest. It is not quite the same as my enthusiasm for the other social networking I do (ahem, facebook). When I first realized I was going to be studying wikis, blogs, and podcasts this semester I was excited. However, I was hopeful that my blogging would consist of writing on a topic of choice. I learned that would not be the case and do see the reason why we are blogging about Web 2.0 tools. It gives us an opportunity to reflect and comment on others' thoughts about these tools.

After reading more about blogs in Will Richardson's book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms I see the implications and importance they can have for my educational practice--both as an educator learning more about good teaching and for bettering my students. With that, I am taking notice of the ways I would introduce blogging to my students if and when I do bring them into my classroom. Thinking about my motivation to blog and what would give me a real vested interested, when the time comes that I am ready to enter my students into the "blogosphere," I will remember to start small, as Richardson suggests, and ease them into it with an approved topic my students choose. I realize their choice topics could present other issues and have thought of that, too. I will also remember to ease myself into my role as "the teacher who oversees these blogs" by having my elementary students save all their work and get my permission before publishing. That will allow me to keep them safe and their posts appropriate.

What are your thoughts about topics for blogging? Do you have any ideas for it's use in your own classroom or how you would introduce it? I am anxious to learn more.

My Past Blogging Experience...

My experience with blogs consists primarily of reading them. I have never created a blog myself--until now. Facebook probably comes the closest I've gotten to creating something like it. However, I've enjoyed reading others' blogs--their updates on their children/family, opinions about various topics, information about how to do something, or adventures in a new country.

In fact, my cousin's blog has been my favorite to read. She met an Italian man and moved to Rome, where she married him, had a child, and lives. As I was preparing to go to Italy for her wedding a couple years back, I became very interested in reading about her newly-adopted culture through her blog. She posted a picture or two with each entry and provided commentary or background information on it. I learned a lot about the Italian culture and Rome and often found myself laughing about the way she described some of these things.