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Empowering Student Independence: Leveraging Wikis and Planners in the Classroom

Transform your classroom dynamics by fostering student independence using web-based wikis and planners. In this session, Juli Lamb presents a solution to common classroom interruptions regarding homework inquiries. Learn how implementing a wiki allows students to access assignments anytime, freeing up valuable class time and encouraging responsibility. With techniques for introducing this system, Juli discusses how students develop essential skills such as time management and self-reliance. Experience the benefits of reduced complaints and increased student ownership of their learning.

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Empowering Student Independence: Leveraging Wikis and Planners in the Classroom

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Forging New Pathways Toward Student Independence Using Wikis and Planners Presenter: Juli Lamb

  2. Typical Classroom Exchanges “Juli! What’s the homework for tomorrow?” “It’s on the board. Read pages 25-28.” Two minutes later “Juli! Is there any homework?” “Yes. I just said it’s to read pages 25-28. And, it’s on the board.” Two minutes later “Juli! I was absent yesterday!! I didn’t know there was a quiz today!!! Can I take it tomorrow????” Etc. etc.

  3. Why this is problematic • Takes up valuable class time • Enables dependence on instructor • Annoying to the students who are paying attention

  4. The solution • Web-based Wiki • Student planner

  5. What’s a Wiki? • Pages stored on the web • www.pbwiki.com and many others • Easy to use • Interface similar to email or word processor • No IT professional needed to manage or maintain • Accessible everywhere with Internet access

  6. How I introduced students to Wiki • Created the page • Posted all assignments and due dates for the upcoming week • Took students into computer lab • Showed where to find the Wiki page • Showed how to enter id and password • Emailed to each student the page address

  7. Introducing students to the planner • Created on Excel, Xeroxed, distributed to students • Showed students how to write assignments from Wiki onto planners • Told students that • assignments would no longer be available in class • assignments would be available only on the Wiki

  8. Results • Not one complaint about this new system • Students learned: • time-management skills • independence • self-confidence • responsibility • awareness of missed assignments • took own responsibility for making them up

  9. More results • Instant elimination of: • all “I didn’t know about the assignment!” protests • all “What’s the homework?” questions • all negotiations about due dates • Confirmation of instructor direction • Less time spent on lesson planning • Peace and quiet in the classroom (priceless)

  10. Why this happened • Instructor updated Wiki every Friday for the coming week • Instructor modeled: • good work habits • self-discipline • time management skills • pro-action, preparation • Instructor included a “head’s up” section • included longer-term assignments • Students aware of what’s coming

  11. Challenges for instructor • the instructor breaking own habits • No more hand-holding and enabling • No more responding to questions about assignments • significant self-control • Instructor taking a “tough love” approach • practice

  12. More challenges for instructor • Updates made routinely and consistently • Postings very clear • Postings difficult to change after the fact • Required good planning habits • Students can always be contacted via email • Required collecting student emails at the beginning of the session • Instructor had already developed that practice several years ago

  13. More challenges for instructor • Change responses to student questions from “The assignment is to read pages 25-28” to “The assignment is on the Wiki. Go get it and add it to your planner.” • Required significant re-training of self

  14. Other effective responses • “You know I don’t answer those questions.” • “Hey, class! He wants to know about the homework! Where can he find it?” • quickly turned into a running joke • Silence + “the look” • Allows students to answer own questions

  15. Responses to protests Student: “But I didn’t know about the assignment!” Me: “It has been posted on the Wiki since last week.” Student: pause. “I guess I should have checked the Wiki and added the assignment to my planner.” Me: “Yes, I think that would have been a good idea.”

  16. Responses to negotiations Student: “I was sick yesterday. I couldn’t get my essay written. Can I turn it in tomorrow?” Me: “The assignment and due date have been posted on the Wiki since last week.” Student: pause. “I guess I should have checked the Wiki and added the due date to my planner.” Me: “Yes, I think that would have been a good idea.”

  17. Final results • I’ll never go back to what I did before!

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