"Creating Our Class Story: Collaborative Writing with Wikis"

Overview: Third-grade students collaborate to create a story online using a wiki platform in this wiki-based language arts lesson. The lesson is designed to integrate technology meaningfully and engagingly while developing critical 21st-century skills. The students are guided through an interactive, fun, and collaborative process of brainstorming, drafting, and revising their shared story.

Objective: Students will work together to create a class story, improving their writing skills and using technology to produce a shared online document. Students will work in groups. After completing their group story, they will compare and contrast each groups stories. 

Materials Required:

1. Devices with internet access (Computer, tablet)

2. Access to a classroom wiki platform

Resources for Third-Grade Students:

1. Storybird: A visual storytelling platform to help spark creativity.

2. Kidblog: A safe and simple blogging platform for kids to improve their writing skills.

3. Raz-Kids: is an online, interactive learning platform providing leveled reading resources for students from kindergarten to 5th grade, promoting reading comprehension and fluency while offering progress tracking for teachers 

4. Starfall: An interactive educational platform that focuses on English Language Arts for kids.

Activity:

Introduction (15 minutes): Start a conversation about storytelling. What elements make a story enjoyable? Who are some favorite characters from stories they've read, and why? Please encourage students to share their thoughts. Explain the concept of a wiki and how it enables collaboration.

Setting up the Wiki (15 minutes):

1. Show students how to use the Wiki platform.

2. Demonstrate how to edit a page, add their ideas, and save their work.

3. Set the ground rules for using the Wiki: respectful language, constructive additions, and respecting others' work.

Story Starters (15 minutes): Help the class choose the main characters, setting, and the story's start. Make these initial entries into the Wiki as a class. Next instruct students to work with their groups. 

Remind students that a narrative needs to have characters, setting, and problem and solution or an important event with a conclusion. Groups should decide fill out this form.  Student should create a google doc and share it with their group members. 

*****LISTEN TO THIS WEEKS PODCAST!!!

(Reminder- to get to this weeks pod cast hover over "WIKI LESSON" above select " Creating Our Class Story Podcast******

Writing Time (20 minutes): Allow students to take turns adding sentences or paragraphs to the story on the Wiki. They can do this from their devices, and other students can see the story develop in real-time. This activity combines creative Writing, typing, and digital literacy. 

Discussion (15 minutes): Gather the class to read the story out loud and discuss the process. How was writing together different from writing individually? What did they like about using the Wiki?

Reflection and Next Steps (10 minutes): Ask students to think about their experience and how they might use wikis for other school projects. Let them know the class story Wiki will remain open for further contributions and editing.

Assessment:

Evaluate students based on their participation in the discussion, contributions to the Wiki, and ability to use the technology. Look for creative thinking, cooperation, and digital literacy in their work.

Rubric 

Participation and Teamwork (1-5 scale)

1: Doesn't often share ideas or work with others in the team.

2: Sometimes shares ideas but only sometimes works well with others.

3: Regularly shares ideas and usually works well with others.

4: Often shares good ideas and works well in a team.

5: Always shares excellent ideas and works well in a team, helping others.

Creative Writing (1-5 scale)

1: Struggles to develop new ideas; many errors in spelling and grammar.

2: Some new ideas but often needs to improve spelling and grammar.

3: Shows creative thinking with a few spelling and grammar mistakes.

4: Often has creative ideas and needs to correct spelling and grammar.

5: Always has great ideas and writes with correct spelling and grammar.

Using the Computer (1-5 scale)

1: Needs a lot of help to use the Computer for the story.

2: Can use the Computer with help but needs help.

3: Mostly understands how to use the Computer and sometimes needs a little help.

4: Can use the Computer independently; only needs help a few times.

5: Is excellent at using the Computer, can do it alone, and even helps others.

Self Assessment: For Students 

"I Can" Self-Assessment Form:

Teamwork: How would you describe your ability to work in a team and share your ideas?

• I find it hard to share my ideas or work with others (1)

• I sometimes share ideas but don't always work well with others (2)

• I can share my thoughts and usually work well with others (3)

• I can often share good ideas and work well in a team (4)

• I can always share excellent ideas and work very well in a group, even helping others (5)

Creative Writing: How well can you develop and write new ideas correctly?

• I struggle to come up with new ideas and make many spelling and grammar mistakes (1)

• I can think of some new ideas but often make spelling and grammar mistakes (2)

• I can show creative thinking with a few spelling and grammar mistakes (3)

• I can usually think of innovative ideas and make few spelling and grammar mistakes (4)

• I can always think of great ideas and write them with correct spelling and grammar (5)

Using the Computer: How well do you think you can use the Computer?

• I need a lot of help to use the Computer for the story (1)

• I can use the Computer with help but struggle to do it alone (2)

• I can mostly use the Computer, but I need a little help sometimes (3)

• I can use the Computer on my own and only need help a few times (4)

• I can use the Computer well, do it on my own, and even help others (5)

*This self-assessment tool can help students understand their strengths and areas for improvement, fostering self-awareness and independent learning skills.

Additional Readings for Teachers:

1. Richardson, W. (2015). From master teacher to master learner. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.

2. Kurt, S. (2020). Wikis in education: How wikis are being used in the classroom. Educational Technology. Retrieved from https://educationaltechnology.net/wikis-in-education/

3. Stauffer, B. (2020, March). What are 21st-century skills? Applied Educational Systems. https://www.aeseducation.com/blog/what-are-21st-century-skills

4. Sahin-Topalcengiz, E., & Yildirim, B. (2020). Teachers' opinions about distance web 2.0 tools, training, and teachers' in-class web 2.0 practices. Journal of Turkish Science Education (TUSED), 17(4), 561–577. https://doi.org/10.36681/tused.2020.45

Through this wiki-based activity, students will gain exposure to 21st-century skills such as collaboration, digital literacy, critical thinking, and creativity. They will learn to work together in a digital environment and improve their language arts skills.