As I was getting out of the water after surfing today, a colleague asked me, “What are you learning about this week in your Masters’ class?” I explained to him that I’ve been spending quite a bit of time on wikis and the possibilities of using them in my chemistry class. I think that incorporating wikis into my teaching techniques would allow for a whole new range of assignments that would challenge and engage my students.
James and Margaret West, authors of Using Wikis for Online Collaboration say, "Students who engage in online collaboration and wiki work during their education will be well prepared for the challenges of the virtual workplace."
Yes, it’s that time of year again…the week that makes my students quiver with anxiety. It’s time for their chemistry final exam. This week, I began my preparations for this most feared test as I always do: I handed students sample questions and a study guide and did my best to answer their questions during class. That’s the way I’m supposed to do it, right? The tried and true and age-tested process of test preparation. Well, when all was done and my last student handed in his exam, I had a flash of brilliance. OK, maybe it wasn’t brilliance, but it’ was at least thought-provoking. What if I found a way to make exam preparation more engaging and effective for my students? Ok, here goes…Students can come up with their own sample questions, study guide and answers. Each class could have its own wiki. I could give each student the assignment of creating one problem, three study guide questions and editing someone else's assignment. Whatever I don't cover in class could be covered on the wiki. The wiki could be comprehensive and extensive. The best part is that the wiki would be created by the students, thus engaging them personally in both the process of learning and the material itself.
What I am still working through is how I would to grade it. I am not sure if I even need to. Will wikis make my teaching life easier or more difficult? I think I will try it out on our next unit test. Stay tuned…
"The role of the instructor is not to provide learning. The role of the instructor is to provide the context in which learning can occur. Contextual teaching and learning engages students in significant and relevant activities that help them connect their academic learning to real-life situations and problems" (Using Wikis for Online Collaboration, James and Margaret West).
I must admit that this quote caught my attention and had me scratching my head at first. “The role of the instructor is not to provide learning”…Really? What is it exactly that I’m paying for? The more I thought about this in relationship to my masters courses, the more it made sense. In the past few months that I’ve been working towards this degree, I have not taken endless notes from lecturing professors nor have I memorized pages of seemingly important data. In fact, most of my interaction with my teachers has come in the form of feedback, occurring after my work has been completed. And yet, upon reflection, I must admit that learning has, in fact taken place. I’m using technologies proficiently in my classrooms now that I’d never even heard of a few months ago. Hmmmmm. Yes, I’d say the teaching style has been to create a context, or set the stage so to speak, for me to fumble my way towards my own learning.
Applying the principle of contextual learning to my own teaching could be a bit dicey. I am, after-all, a chemistry teacher. I’m supposed to teach formulas and chemical equations necessitating wrote memorization, right? Well, actually, I couldn’t agree more with the statement: "Contextual teaching and learning engages students in significant and relevant activities that help them connect their academic learning to real-life situations and problems.” In my heart of hearts, I believe that teaching chemistry is actually about creating a space for students to learn and experiment with the essential life skill of problem solving. My desire is for students to use their experience of the “cause and effect” process of chemistry to make wise choices in their real life activities. I am hoping that the wikis will provide the collaborative and creative space or “context” for my students’ learning.
It’s an interesting experience to be both teacher and student simultaneously. It does absolutely give me the opportunity to “walk my talk” in the classroom. As my students engage in new technologies that I introduce in my classrooms such as blogs, wikis, podcasts and Twitter, I am learning right along with them…As it should be.
