Another Student Voice: "This is Why Writers Like to Write Stories"–A Wiki Makes a Writer

Iris is a very quiet student in class. Shy. Her non-native English, at 15, is still developing, too–which only makes speaking and writing more difficult.

So listen to her reflect, on her English blog, about the French Revolution “Ant Farm Diaries” wiki project that Spivey and I are collaborating on in history. Really listen. Non-standard grammar aside, the ideas are the thing. And Iris shares a powerful one about the changes wikis and creative “writing to learn” assignments make in this student’s attitude toward writing.

Beginning of the 2nd semester, our History class made our Wiki. At first, I didn’t know what we were doing and I just complained because out class had to make our own encyclopedia about the topic we chose. I chose to write about the cause of French Monarchs declination, I had good time searching about my topic because my dad helped me out and I had some time to talk to my dad for long time. However, since I was suck at computer I just got mad that the fact I waste too many times on doing the homework.

However, yesterday I just realize it was quite fun to work on computer and write down my thoughts. More over, writing diaries about the person I made up was really fun. I could write whatever I can write about and I can make my person’s personality funny, happy or even sad. Since, I realized that writing diaries about the person I made up was fun, I write diary longer than I used to write.

One of the reasons writing other person’s diary is fun because I can make story that I have never experienced, thought, or felt. And because my character is a British journalist who has different personality with my personality (there might be some similarities between my character and me but overall the personality is different than my personality). I enjoyed writing the diaries because I could write things that I wanted to experience or thing I just dreamed to do.

Anyways, this is why people or writer likes to write stories. They could write whatever they want and things that they want to do.

I am so glad Jason and I took the plunge, stopped teaching, stopped assigning traditional, mind-numbing history homework, and went out on a read-write web limb. And I’m so glad, too, that Iris was compelled to write about this, unassigned, on her weekly “free blog” assignment.

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Written by Clay Burell

January 22nd, 2007 at 5:30 pm

Posted in blogging, creativity, history, lessons, project-based learning, student 2.0, teaching, wiki, writing

Tagged with collaboration, student 2.0, teaching, web 2.0/ read-write web, wiki

2 Responses to 'Another Student Voice: "This is Why Writers Like to Write Stories"–A Wiki Makes a Writer'

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Hi, Mr. Burell! Jong-Min Choi from Shanghai writing here. I see you are trying to make a new trend in teaching. TJ, too, says hi to you. It is a pity that you do not appear to have many posts on music, especially on Mahler. I will frequently visit your blog. Very fascinating. I suggest you buy a DVD of performance of Leonard Bernstein’s musical Candide, since you are reading the book. Good to see you enjoying new job and environment.

[Reply]

Jong-Min

23 Jan 07 at 10:25 am
Hi Jong-min!

What a pleasant surprise.

My apologies for neglecting Mahler on an edublog. We both know there’s nothing the Master Mahler DOESN’T teach. (Especially in the Third Symphony.)

Okay, my music teacher/former student, I will take your assignment and look up Bernstein’s Candide.

I do enjoy the new environment. But I miss many of you (and you, especially) terribly.

B.

[Reply]

Clay Burell

23 Jan 07 at 5:27 pm