Using Wiki in Project-based Learning Ching Chung Hau Po Woon Primary School

What is Wiki? Wikipedia –Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users.wiki softwareused collaboratively PBWorks –Collaborative Editing Encourage group projects by allowing people to edit pages and contribute to your workspace. –Complete History and Audit Trail PBworks keeps a complete audit trail of every change made to your workspace. See who changed what. Reverse any change with a couple clicks.

Background Target: KS2 Primary 5 Module: We love Hong Kong Unit: Special People, Special Things Text Type: Biography –For teachers Biography is difficult to teach Not enough existing materials –For students Text type is authentic and they are interested Target: KS2 Primary 5 Students don’t have much experience in group writing Text Type: Playscript –For teachers From reading to writing Not enough existing materials –For students Text type is fun Enhance creativity

Resources Used Reference / Self-learning materials for writing biography –TIME for kidsTIME for kids –biographybiography.combiographybiography.com –factmonster.comfactmonster.com Interactive activities –Sample biography with simple comprehension questionsSample biography with simple comprehension questions –Rearrange sentences to construct a biographyRearrange sentences to construct a biography Authentic English Web links for special people Mind map template Worksheet Guiding questions Biography worksheet Self / peer evaluation form Assessment grid Teaching / Self-learning materials for writing playscripts –Primaryresources.co.uk (PPT1, PPT2)PPT1PPT2 Online stories –Little Red Riding Hood (DLTK-kids.com)DLTK-kids.com –Stone Soup (Speakaboos.com)Speakaboos.com Online Exercise / notes –LearnEnglish.deLearnEnglish.de –Buzzle.comBuzzle.com Playscript worksheetworksheet Self / peer evaluation form Assessment grid

Process Background: East Asian Games 2009 Pre-task –Visit Google sites for organized materialsGoogle sites –Students form groups for peer learning –Learn the structure of biography through Two interactive activities A sample biography Mind map While-task –Choose an athlete and read the websites about the person –Finish a mind map and write a biography Post-task –Write another biography on a Wiki platform Pre-task –Visit Google sites for organized materialsGoogle sites –Students form groups for peer learning –Learn the structure of playscript through Two powerpoint demonstrations A playscript worksheet –Revise vocabulary items (adjectives, adverbs) While-task –Choose an online story and read it –Discuss in class the sharing of work –Write in groups on a Wiki platform the playscript of the storyWiki platform –Discuss and revise on the Wiki platform Post-task –Act out the play

Sample biography with simple comprehension questions

Rearrange sentences to construct a biography

Mind Map Information for 1st paragraph 2nd paragraph 3rd paragraph 4th paragraph

Wiki Platform: Pbworks.com

Student A led the discussion Student B discussed the validity of data Teacher’s intervention

Student of another group urged the group mates Another student corrected the work according to the teacher’s advice Teacher guided the students Teacher’s intervention

Keep track of students’ progress

Correct grammatical error Further elaboration Correct spelling mistake

Correct punctuation Better choice of word Correct spelling mistake

Add information Enhance writing (though wrong spelling)

Different Wiki platforms PBworks.com –Free service (for education) –Simple account management –Only one student can edit a piece of writing at a time Google Docs –Free service –Multiple students can edit a piece of writing at a time –Require accounts for every students

Reflection Advantages of using Wiki –Cater for individual differences Writing materials can be provided on the platform so that they are always ready for students For brighter students, they can still search additional information by themselves –Students have a lot more time to revise their writing –We can keep track of students’ participation through the Wiki platform

Points to note Help students by assigning role / time to edit Give comments rather than mark every errors Remind students to check the Wiki website frequently Give enough input of vocabulary items through reference website Choose a right platform according to your lesson’s focus