Wikis for Everyone!

I'm challenged daily by the curriculum of Argument and Debate class. Not only do I not understand the content, but I really, really don't enjoy it. It's very content-heavy, like learning the rules of student congress, legislative procedures, debate rules and regulations...not really my cup o' tea, and it seems pretty social studies-related vs. being under the language arts umbrella.

But I digress. I have to teach it, so I might as well find a way to make it interesting and meaningful...for the kids AND for me!

Enter technology. (And my wonderful professor, Tim, and his wiki inspiration!!!)

I decided to have them work collaboratively to research some (real, existing, United States) bills and resolutions so that we could debate them in class. Instead of just assigning the unoriginal individual powerpoint, I had them choose one of six groups for bills that they voted on last week and they're going to have a period-long presentation on the topic, including time for cross-examination by their peers. In order to best help this project come to life, I created a wiki (much like the one we do in our Pitt online class!) and within the wiki, created groups that they can collaborate within. Here's what it looks like:

(there are two more blue boxes below these three for the remaining groups)

So far, only the following headaches ensued:

• taking time in class to invite students via their school emails, to which many forgot the log-in procedures
• waiting for them to create accounts
• waiting for them to change their usernames to something appropriate and based on their name (ya know, so the other members actually know who they're chatting with on the wiki......

And I expected more issues, honestly, since none of them raised their hands when I asked who had worked on a wiki before. But in checking on their progress today (one day into the project), I noticed they're actually utilizing the collaboration possibilities! Color me impressed :) Check it out!

One major aspect that the love so far is that there is a field trip for four of the students tomorrow, but they'll be on the bus on their smartphones joining in on the wiki during class, anyway, so as not to leave their group "hangin'." (Their decision...not mine!) 

I'm excited to see the finished products. Our online Pitt class already taught US that this is a highly effective format for collaboration, discussion, and sharing of content, but I'm glad that these students (9th graders) are getting this experience in group work with a twist on technology.