Thing # 16

Wikis in the school library can be a valuable collaborative tool. With teachers, wikis covering the TEKS can be created and shared among teams, and with the librarian so that when students visit the library, they can use the technology to continue their learning in a “seamless” environment. Collaboration can be accomplished without the need for face to face (and time-consuming) meetings. All educators are hard pressed to carve out time for their necessary meetings. Wikis offer a way to accomplish the work of a team meeting without having a team meeting and sharing that work on an ad hoc basis.

Sounds good to me.

In my summer work here at Spring Woods, a history teacher walked in to schedule some library computer time so his students could work on the Great Depression. Jan B., who was doing the first session, had already prepared a wiki on the Great Depression. It was sitting there ready and waiting to go. Result: Library Services looks good and with the program. Teacher has less work to prepare a lesson. Students learn.

In my library, I will use wikis for TAKS science. I am in regular communication with the 5th grade science teacher about her needs and we have our work cut out for us this year covering landforms, all the cycles, and the scientific method. We are already bombarding them with Discovery Education, and adding wikis to the formula should pull us along even further.