Kicking the Habit, Day 4: Wikipedia Rising, Ant Farm Diaries Coming
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The French Revolution Wikipedia / Ant Farm Diaries is shaping up, though chaotically.
We’re all learning together. I think (and as Diane advises, I need to check my assumptions by assigning some student reflections on this experience thus far) that the students are more actively engaged.
Their Wikipedia entries on the historical origins of the French Revolution are due on the wiki tomorrow and the next day. The day following, they post their first “writing to learn Ant Farm diary” entry.
Repeatable moment: Giving up the teacher computer and LCD to whatever student could assert and facilitate the collaborative table of contents design for E period. Then sitting back, and only modeling a few “active listening” and “inviting dialogue” responses when non-collaborative responses to student input were made.
Repeatable moment 2: Drawing names out of a hat so students could claim, by lot, the list of roles (with a “suggest your own” option) for the Ant Farm. It was like a menu of interesting dishes, the way it made them think before choosing.
Spivey and I Skyped tonight while looking at the wiki, and talked and edited at the same time. It took maybe 20 minutes, and was very helpful. (Again, the power of collaborative teaching.) He asked if we could switch students tomorrow morning so I could walk his class through creating a Diigo account and using it to read and research. What an excellent idea. He’ll come into my class so I can go into his.
If you want a look at the current stage of “controlled chaos,” the wiki is here. Feel free to snoop around and offer feedback.
[Side note: The Arabian Nights / Flat World Nights wiki-blog-book project will get off the ground in a lesson or two--next week at the latest. It appears we might have a Canadian classroom, and maybe Colorado, adding their own culture-specific "tales" to the mix. So the connections are happening. More as it unfolds....]
If you like this post, please spread it: 
(But don't tag it "education." That will bury it.)
- Anonymous Student Feedback on Wiki "French Revolution Ant Farm Diaries" Project...
- French Revolution Writing to Learn "Ant Farm" Wiki Open to the Public...
- Kicking the Habit, Day 2: The Kids Adapt Better Than the Addicts...
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I’m really hooked on the development of this unit even though I don’t work at the high school level.
However, what I really am loving is your own reflections on this whole process - it’s a great model to others so, for that reason, I hope you’ll continue on with your daily updates.
Without gathering reflections from your students, what evidence makes you think that students are more actively engaged? Is their dialogue different in class? Are the products of their learning different than what you’ve seen in the past?
[Reply]
Diane Quirk
15 Jan 07 at 1:16 pm
diane, your comments help me stay on my toes, so thanks again.
i did a moodle forum for just the first five minutes of class this morning asking them to reflect on the differences etc. i’ll post on them later.
thanks again.
hey, what grade level do you teach? i’m looking for classrooms for the es and ms teachers in the new cadre to connect and collaborate with. any possibilities in your neck of the world?
[Reply]
Clay Burell
16 Jan 07 at 3:42 am
That would be fun! I’m an instructional/technology specialist for my district but mainly work with elementary teachers. Our third grades study world cultures so there’s a connection and I’m sure there are some other teachers who might find it interesting to work with another school. I have a few 5th grade teachers who will be creating blogs in the next few weeks and can mention the possibilities to them. If you have any specific teachers in mind, you and they can contact me at dquirk@bville.org. Thanks!
[Reply]
Diane Quirk
16 Jan 07 at 10:28 am