Students Working Well on a Collaborative Project

Very cool, Karen!  Thanks for letting us take a peek.  And keep up the good work!

Thanks, Karen. fpr sharing how you are using the wiki in  action. It was nice to see your lesson objectives and then how both you and the students carried them out. I looked at Group 3 because I have taught both Korean and Vietnamese ESL students. it was charming.
Do you students have computers at home, or are they using school computers to do the homework? That is a constant issue with me.
Thanks again!

HI Karen, thanks for showing us what works.  I am gradually coming to the conclusion that any projects we have done traditionally as group projects can be adapted to wiki's.  Check this out, I did this project with some middle school students about 8-10 years ago and now someone has adapted it for the internet.  http://www.monsterexchange.org/  I think I will do this with the wiki this year.
Steve

Thanks, Karen. fpr sharing how you are using the wiki in  action. It was nice to see your lesson objectives and then how both you and the students carried them out. I looked at Group 3 because I have taught both Korean and Vietnamese ESL students. it was charming.
Do you students have computers at home, or are they using school computers to do the homework? That is a constant issue with me.
Thanks again!

-joygarratt

Usually, my students have computers at home ... or have access to one at a friend's or relative's house.  We do have an open lab at school if someone needs to use it.  Being a community college, the lab is generally open from morning til evening, so that fits with most people's schedules.

HI Karen, thanks for showing us what works.  I am gradually coming to the conclusion that any projects we have done traditionally as group projects can be adapted to wiki's.  Check this out, I did this project with some middle school students about 8-10 years ago and now someone has adapted it for the internet.  [url]  I think I will do this with the wiki this year.
Steve

-ssp

The monster project is a great idea!  I may have to adapt it somehow.  I have done things like that in speaking classes, but never with a focus on reading.

The one thing to think about with wiki group projects is time.  If I had done the comparison activity in class, I would have used part of a class period, or maybe spread it over two days.  When they do work online, I give them a week (Monday - Friday) because it takes more time for them to "talk" to each other.  However, it also gives some students more opportunity to think and add to the conversation.  Some of them feel uncomfortable speaking in English, so if they are at home and have time to write their ideas, I think they get more out of it.

I have to admit that I was quite impressed with what the students did.  I tried some group projects last semester, and they were not as successful.  I think writing out the steps made it easier for the students to deal with.

As a follow up to this assignment, on Friday we looked at the paragraphs as a class.  I transferred them to Word, so it was easy to make corrections, changes, etc. 

Nice work!  How did you set up the template on reflection papers, where you had the due dates and the students linked to their work?

The template that is in each student's folder just included the chart and the due dates.  The students created their own links.  I give them the topic every week on the homework page.  For the first few weeks, I gave instructions on how to link.  I also told the students what to name their assignments.

In case you are asking how to make a template ... Create a page.  After you save the page, tag it 'template.'  When you want to put it in a folder, go to 'Create Page'.  Give it a name, choose the folder, and then choose 'Use a Template'.  Even though I had to put the page in each student's folder, it went quickly.

Hope I answered your question.

What a simple, yet profound, assignment! Thank you for sharing. This idea can be adapted to comparing and contrasting many things.

Dorothy