Google Docs vs. wikis

Blog -
Blog -


Think about the similarities and differences between Google Docs and Wikis.


1. I envision this being used administratively as well as instructionally. I presently use this to complete documents from the Testing Office as well as my Reading Recovery Monthly Report. I could have used this with teachers as I completed the Textbook Inventory. I could have uploaded the document from the Textbook Office and had the teachers fill in their inventory and simply compiled the totals. The principal and I could have used this to format the PMAPP information. When I make the class lists, I could have the teachers or the principal edit them as necessary. As I help new teachers, they could send me their lesson plans and I could edit accordingly, perhaps even chat as I edit so they could understand my reasoning as I make suggestions.

2.What foundational skill set would be required before moving forward with this? I think a background in Word would certainly help. I am glad that Google did not reinvent the wheel but elborated on what is globally known.

3.How would you incorporate these tools into your school or classroom?
I won't repeat the ideas that I stated above. For primary grades, I could have the students complete a web collaboratively before they write to organize their thoughts. Tasks could be divided amoung several students and recorded on the doc. I could see this being used for collaborative Science projects. In the classroom, the possibilities are only confined to my meager knowledge of the tool at this time.

wiki CONTINUED

I have to stop wanting to capitalize wiki!!! This week I added another page to my literarytoolsstudysheet wiki. I wanted the students to continue their literary tools study by making a Power Point presentation. I thought this would be an engaging activity that would truly test their knowledge. They are to use the wiki for planning and collaboration. They would work in groups of four. Each will choose a literary tool. They would be required to state an example of the tool. A member of their collaborative group would find a picture. Another member would type and another would present. Members would suggest a font style, a font size, appropriate background color and animation. These suggestions would be entered on the wiki. Discussion would ensue through the wkiki as well as they debate the suggestions. As this is their first try (as well as mine) at using technology to banter, I will have to be close by with direction and suggestions, however, as they develop more experience there will be a gradual release of responsibility.

First Experience with Wikis

Please visit my first wiki - literarytoolsstudysheet
I created this because students have a hard time differentiating between the various literary tools that authors use. I want them to implement these tools as well, but they have to be able to recognize and identify them first. I find that when students teach their peers, things become clearer. Hopefully, this will bring some clarity.
How can I use this with my classes? - I hope to expand this format according to the grade level. For K and 1 children, we can list words that begin with a certain letter, 2nd grade, a certain digraph or blend. Fifth grade studies the American colonies. We can brainstorm the differences between the various regional colonies, New England, Mid-Atlantic and Southern.
Wiki/Blog - I may be wrong, but I think that a blog is more discussion oriented, a more narrative form. I found that my wiki was more list or item centered. Of course, as I learn more about how to use them, I may find that this is not the case.
I found that they both are interactive, but again, the blog was more of a discussion whereas, the wiki was a good way of adding to, deleting and correcting someone else's ideas.
Excited - What a great way for interaction between students! This is a way for the student to feel valued.
Scared - It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. As I become more comfortable, I will use wikis more frequently and more diversely.
Confused - Not exactly confused, but as a Reading teacher, it did bother me that the title was written in all lower case!
Learn more about - I would like to learn more ways to implement this format.

Wonderful idea!

I love this idea!  What a great way to get students and teachers into a dialog about books. If you want to at some time in the future, you could add alink to your school's library OPAC so the students and teachers can do reviews of the books that they read from your school's library.

The Paris Wife Interview

I recently came across an interview with Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife. She read The Movable Feast by Ernest Hemingway and was so struck by the relationship between he and his first wife, Hadley, that she based her book on this subject. Of course, I had to order it from Amazon ASAP.

New Experience!

I never thought of using a blog in the elementary classroom before, but it is such a great way to get connected with your students and for them to get connected with each other in more meaningful way than through social networking. Their conversations will be deeper and more thought provoking if they revolve around subject matter or what they read. I will be interested to see how they interact with the text using this format. Will they discuss connections, predictions and inferences that they make? Will they draw on others experiences as they do in the classroom setting? I found the Heisey video informative regarding how to use this in the classroom.

This process was time consuming, but the templates and direction helped a lot. I did want to add a picture, but was running out of time. I can do that later.  The Blogger tutorial helped a lot to get me started.

Welcome to Book Blogger

Hi,

Welcome to Book Blogger! The purpose of this blog is to create a dialog about -  you're right - what your reading  - what you are reading now, what you want to read, what you suggest and what you definately won't recommend. I have learned from belonging to a book club that some of my favorite books were ones I didn't care about starting.

I would like to hear from both teachers and students. Students, you will be surprised by what your teachers are reading. Teachers, it will give you better insight as to what your students' interests are.

So start BOOK BLOGGING!