Using Wikis

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Web Tool:

• Wikispaces

Industry:

• Oil and Gas

The Continuing Story

"The Continuing Story” is a collaborative activity in which students work towards achieving the outcome of describing how an oil derrick works by adding individual sentences into a wiki as they learn new vocabulary.

Outcomes:

The learner will be able to:

• Use a wiki to enter information about an engineering concept such as building tunnels
• Develop vocabulary related to the topic of tunnels
• Present information and ideas by writing two or three paragraphs; provide detailed description of how an oil derrick works

Preparation:

• Introduce related vocabulary
• For ideas and vocabulary, view the engineering example.

Delivery:

1. Introduce the activity
   • Introduce concept of writing in a wiki; introduce wiki tool
   • Clarify expectations
     • Grading criteria
     • I.e. One posting in wiki (each learner could have their own page)
   • Wikispaces example
   • Create the activity by:
     • Creating learner groups
     • Brainstorm sections for wiki writing
2. Do the activity
   • A continuing story in which your class adds sentences using new vocabulary words and writes a detailed description of how a oil derrick works in collaboration with the entire class. They will NEVER forget the meaning of the words as they read and re-read their story each time they visit to add. The story can be a single version or branch off into multiple versions and endings.
3. Conclude with one of these ideas
   • Research further and create a summary and post in the Wiki
   • Encourage peer editing for best writing

Activity Reference Links:

• ProD ProT example

The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) skills addressed by this activity are:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading
• Writing