Using Wikis

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Lesson Summaries - Healthcare and OHS

“Lesson Summaries - Healthcare and OHS” is an activity using Wiki in order for learners to summarize nursing information to be used as review and study materials. The topic chosen here is Occupational Health and Safety.

Outcomes:

The learner will be able to:

  • Write a summary related to healthcare safety; identifying hazards, or controlling hazards in healthcare
  • Acquire related vocabulary and knowledge to occupational health and safety for healthcare workers
  • Research health care related topics from a variety of sources
  • Give feedback in a pairs in a culturally appropriate manner

Preparation:

  • Review how to “summarize” when writing; how to avoid plagiarism; etc.
  • Outline expectations as to writing on the wiki:
    • Use a graph, table, chart or diagram as the basis for some of the information;
    • Address the purpose of the writing
    • Demonstrate good use of complex structures, adequate vocabulary, detailed descriptions, provide and introduction, body and conclusion; good spelling and grammar
  • Research using resources such as “Worksafe Alberta” as a large class or in groups
  • Divide the class into groups that will work on the following topics:
    • Introduction to healthcare safety
    • Identifying hazards in healthcare
    • Controlling hazards in healthcare

Delivery:

  1. Introduce the tool, wiki, if necessary
  2. Write 2 to 3 paragraph detailed summaries in groups using the research related to their assigned topic (from 3 listed above); use a graph, table, chart or diagram as the basis for some of the information;
  3. Prepare a summary of a chunk of content and post in wiki. Compare summary with other learners who have the same topic;
  4. Provide feedback to the other wiki postings; post questions for clarification
  5. Use the summaries for studying for future nursing exams

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

  • Reading
  • Writing

Reading

ES: Global Description CLB: Global Description ES: Speaking Tasks CLB: Speaking Tasks

Chooses and integrates information from various sources or from several parts of a single text. Makes low-level inferences from multiple sources. Identifies relevant and irrelevant information. (3)

Follows main ideas, key words and important details in an authentic 2-3 page text on a familiar topic, but within only partially predictable context. (8)

Extracts relevant points, but often requires clarification of idioms and of various cultural references. (8)

Refers to manuals and procedures to gain information. (3)

Interprets selections from texts about safety precautions at a workplace by locating and integrating 3-4 pieces of information from the text. (8)

Accesses and locates several pieces of information in on-line electronic reference sources. (8)

Writing

ES: Global Description CLB: Global Description ES: Speaking Tasks CLB: Speaking Tasks

Either longer or shorter pieces of writing intended to inform, explain, request information, express opinions, or give directions.

Extracts key information and relevant detail from a page-long text and writes an outline or summary.

Demonstrates good control over common sentence patterns, coordination and subordination, and spelling and mechanics. Has occasional difficulty with complex structures (e.g. those reflecting cause and reason, purpose, comment), naturalness of phrases and expressions, organization and style.

Prepares information sheets that combine text and graphs to present product information or summarize trends.

Write an outline or a summary of a longer text. (7,8)