Wiki Project

For class this week, our assignment is to locate, evaluate, and reflect the effectiveness of two wikis.  While looking, I found a Wiki Grading Rubric.  This rubric was created using VictoriaA. Davis’s ideas on an effective wiki.  I used elements from both of these to evaluate the following two wikis. 

Wiki 1:  Mr. Mendell’s 4^th Grade Class Wiki is found at http://mendell.wikispaces.com/Mr.+M%27s+4th+Grade+Wiki.

Wiki 2:  Mrs. Harju’s 2^nd Grade Class Wiki is found at http://harju.wikispaces.com/home. 

Both wikis contain collaborative effort.  Wiki 1 has a page where students can add a virtual sticky note explaining how to make reading more interesting.  There are pages to upload several items like book shares and glogs.  For one page, a group is asked to work together to create a web quest about their trip to Yosemite National Park. Wiki 2 has pages on the wiki for students to upload and present. They can work in groups or pairs to create fairy tales and fables with Puppet Pals. There are several pages in the wiki where students can add digital stories, stories using Storybird, and discussions on their own Kidblog.  Each student has their own page for sharing.  On each student page; there is an introduction video, name glog, and various projects they have created during the year.  I saw student contributions throughout both wikis. 

There is great visual appeal in wiki 2.  Wiki 1 has many graphics, but needs more color and more variety in fonts.  He used the same layout on most pages of the wiki.  The home page of Wiki 2 has a very colorful glog from Glogster EDU.  There is graphics and videos on both wikis.  Wiki 2 is more appealing to the eye.

Wiki 1 and Wiki 2 have a table of contents and headings on each page.  Wiki 1 even contains a table of contents other pages, not just the home page.  Wiki 1 does a great job of explaining what is expected of the students on each page.  Wiki 2 could use more detailed explanations to the students.  Wiki 2’s table of contents is difficult to use and follow.  It took me several tries to locate some things.  Her students are probably pros by now; however, a new visitor might struggle to locate items. 

Both wikis hyperlink sources and give extra information on topics.  Wiki 1 even has a page where students can post links or favorite resources. 

I feel the purpose of both these wikis is for the students to gather information, share information, and collaborate with each other.  Wiki 1 explains what a wiki is on the home page.  Wiki 2 lists the rules and provides a link to the acceptable use policy on the home page.  I would like to find a way to put these in one wiki.  Even though Wiki 2 is more eye catching, I feel the students would get more out of Wiki 1.  This teacher thoroughly explained all assignments and projects. 

I gained some valuable ideas for my own wiki.  What did you learn while researching classroom wikis?