Hi,
I've just finished putting together a Wiki for my students for this
fall to use with vocabulary. As I was putting it together, it stuck me
that it would be perfect for this group to work on grammar scope(s) and
sequence(s) collaboratively.
Just in case you don't know what a wiki is, I'll explain.
Wiki are online spaces where groups of people can edit, link, and upload content
on any page in the space. They can be public (anyone can view and edit),
protected (anyone can view, members can edit), or private (only members can edit
and view).
Wikipedia is the most famous, but wikis are everywhere. I have one
set up for a vocabulary unit. Each page has a sentence from our literature book
that uses the vocab word. The students have to add content to each page and make
a certain number of edits (I can track the edits backdoor so no one can abuse
the system.) They find examples and explain usage, find pictures that
illustrate, connect the word to their lives, books, movies, etc. There is a
discussion tab on each page to ask questions, make comments, etc.
Why not start an ATEG grammar wiki? When we were done, we would
collaboratively have put together something useful for teachers and students
alike. I envision a splash page with links to different philosophical
starting points. From there you can add pages, link to others, upload diagrams,
etc.
I have no idea what the finished project would look like, but
wouldn't it be fun to see if the group of dedicated people could at least get
something on "paper" to look at? You want parts of speech? Start a wiki
section that uses parts of speech. You prefer word classes? Get together with
the people who want word classes and get going!
It just seems like we are always arguing. I don't get to the
conferences (I'm limited to one a year, and I have to go to NCTE), so from the
sidelines, it's a bit frustrating so hear all the arguments, and see none of the
collaboration. Here's a way to get everyone involved. And we could get
lots of non-ATEG colleagues involved. Maybe that would help with ATEG
numbers.
I use the free Wikispaces at www.wikispaces.com. The only real problems
I have are that there's no spell check and that when large numbers of edits are
being made at the same time, it's possible overwrite each other.
Any thoughts?
~Gretchen
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