I started my PBWorks adventure by creating an education account since I had never participated in a Wiki before. http://arainey.pbworks.com/. I will say that at first, I did not understand what I was looking at or how I could use this in my classroom. Especially in a blended learning environment or remote instruction. Then I found Wikis in Education: How Wikis are Being Used in the Classroom.
The answer that I have been looking for on how to create a collaborative learning environment during this time of social distancing and remote learning fell into my lap. At first, I thought I would give my students a google doc, google slide or even google sites to collaborate in. Do you know what the greatest affordance of a Wiki like PBWorks is? Anyone with the link can add, delete, or modify the content (collaborate). It doesn’t matter where you are or your device, no email is needed or district portal for login. Simply the link can get you into a space where you can create and contribute. Often times our students consume and are not given opportunities to create.
There have been missed opportunities in my math and science classes because of time constraints. I would love to close every single lesson with an opportunity for my students to write and share their learning. PBWorks affords this opportunity. If you really want to know that a student understood the lesson objective get them to write a how-to, why, or compare and contrast prompt. For example, say the lesson objective is 4.4(A)add and subtract whole numbers and decimals to the hundredths place using the standard algorithm. The activities in the classroom would include a mini-lesson, group practice - agreeing or disagreeing on a word problem’s answer, partner practice - selecting items from a menu and tallying the cost, and finally independent practice. - a google form multiple-choice assessment. Outside of the classroom students would enter the PBWorks workspace and contribute to a collaborative assignment. A writing activity where they could explain, How do you add or subtract whole numbers and decimals to the hundredths place using the standard algorithm? The forum is set up so that not everyone repeats the same thing, but adds to that question. They could add their own example or their own connection from the activities in the classroom. All students contribute collectively to answering the question. One cohesive answer. This collaborative and constructivist method could fill in that final learning gap for anyone who was still struggling to answer the question. I would at the end of everyone’s contribution add my thoughts as well. It would remain in that space for review and parents to see. Being able to contribute your thoughts and connections to a subject is a much-needed skill if you are going to be part of any team in the real world.
