Use+your+wikispace+to+encourage+collaborative+learning

So you want to use a wikispace to encourage collaborative learning..... Click here if you would like to see an example of a working wiki.... [|www.mrclay13biology.wikispaces.com]

Once you're ready to give it a try have a go at following these steps... 1. The first thing you will need to do is consider the type of tasks you would like to create for your students. Remember that wikis allow students to learn in a number of ways including:
 * Create a collaborative document. E.g. create collaborative notes; write a collaborative story, have students collaboratively critique a piece of writing, a video or other resource (e.g. an online poster or Glogster)
 * Have students engage in a discussion, E.g. Have students discuss the ethics behind stem cell research

Consider the type of task your creating and the number of people who would be able to make a good contribution. Perhaps you will need a number of similar activities for a large class were students were split into groups with which they collaborate.

2. Create a link for your resource by clicking "edit navigation" on the page.

3. Create the resource you wish to add on the page you have created.

4. Get your kids on the wikispace. To do this they may need to create a wikispaces account before the join your space (just like you joined mine). You could show them how to do this in class or perhaps set it as homework. You could then give them access to this video (perhaps embed it into your wikispace) to shows them how to join. media type="youtube" key="PU6wrxDnXXc" width="425" height="350"

5. Monitor the activity of the students and think how they are doing in terms of the following:
 * Did the wikispace allow learning to be enhanced? If so, how? If not, why not?
 * How many students are actively participating? What can you do to increase this with some students?
 * Which students are participating more than others? What can you do to reward/empower them?
 * Are any students making inappropriate comments on the space? What is the best way to deal with? Have you removed the comments?

6. Try again perhaps... What will you do this time?