EDTK 2030: Information and Communication Technologies in Education
                                                                                                    Assignment 2: Instructional Wiki (Option 1)
                                                                                                       E-tutor: Debra- Dreana Marshall Stewart
                                                                                                                    Student: Shonella Morgan
                                                                                                                          October 17th 2015


Functionality and Justification of Features Used:
Using ICT in education today has proven to be very successful. In times past children had to listen to the teacher narrate the lesson and then the children had to recall all of the information at test time, to which many were failing to succeed in doing. Today the use of Web 2.0 tools in the classroom has placed an innovative way to student’s learning and teachers’ delivery of curriculum content. Furthermore, the Wiki is a web 2.0 tool that promote learning and cooperation among learners, for it allows the learners to make contribution on learning task in a collaborative mode,  comment on their peers contributions and be respectful of others in the learning environment, (Kingsley & Brinkrhoff, 2011, p. 1). The wiki thus stands for, “What I Know Is’, or Quik” according to, (Ajjan & Hartshorne, 2008 and Toker, Moseley, & Chow, 2008 cited in Ducate, Anderson and Moreno). Moreover, using the wiki as a learning tool enables students to complete projects, (Unit 4, p. 112), and share their ideas on the task given; therefore each learner is able to take responsibility for their own learning, as Awada and Abdullah, (2014, pp. 97-98), reiterated that the wiki even though it fosters collaboration the student still have to engage in single learning and individually perform the task with this ICT learning tool. The wiki is designed that learners are able to write, edit, paste, upload images, create links, save their work and use information from each other as a means of discussion in asking and responding to comments made.
Consequently, in the wiki lesson plan below learners are given the responsibility to discover their own learning by researching landforms, which are the shape or structure of the earth, and then upload or type their information in the wiki for their teammates to see and make comments. Evidently, the constructive approach is seen because students have to discover the answers for themselves, (Bruner 1960 cited in Nipissing University, 2011), as they they engaged in hands-on learning and interaction with their peers and the materials. Therefore, in completing the task on ‘Landforms’, students will utilize the main features of the wiki: Writing, editing, proofreading, and collaborating which will require that students use their high order thinking skills, (Kingsley & Brinkrhoff, 2011, p. 1).  According to Berger and Trexler (2010 cited in EDTK 2030, 2015, Unit 4, p. 111) when students use the features listed above in their collaborative setting, they will develop their critical thinking skills. Important to note, is that in order for there to be a completed list on landforms in the Caribbean, the entire class must work collaboratively to complete the project.
                                                                                                                     Group 01-Shonella-ICT
                                                                                                                           ACTIVITY PLAN 
                                                                                                                    Assignment #2 Option 1
Name of Activity: Landforms
Previous Knowledge:  Children have never done land forms before, but they are familiar that there are different shapes and the land looks different compared to the shapes they are familiar with.
 Strands: Intellectual Empowerment, Effective Communication and Aesthetic Expression
DATE: October 17th 2015 AGE: 7-8 years
 Number of children: 12   
Time: 1 hour
Objectives

• Students will work together in groups to research specific landforms and text in the wiki page to share their information, also upload images.

• Students will edit the list, proofread and save the wiki.

• Students will engage in discussions, and asking questions on the information researched.

PROCEDURE OF ACTIVITY:    
Step: 1- Introduction: Ask children if they have ever visited another country. Let them say where and for what purpose. Tell children that today we are going on an  expedition across the Caribbean. Show the children the Map of the Caribbean. Ask them to identify what ‘shapes’ they see. Tell children that they will be  going to view different land forms (shapes of the features of the earth) in the Caribbean.

Step:  2- Landforms are the natural formation of the structure of the earth. They are many landforms throughout the earth, some are small and others are very high or large, (National Geographic, 2015, & Geo Kids. Com, 2015). Some example of landforms found in the Caribbean are: hills, mountains, islands, river,  lakes, reefs, (World Atlas, 2015). There are distinct features that help us to know the difference. Just as we can identify the circle because it goes round and round, or the triangle that has three sides or the square that has four equal sides so too does land forms have different Features.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 3: Divide children into six groups, each group will select the name of a  country from a bag which will then be posted up on the map for all to see where each  group will be ‘going’ and what specific land form they are going to find and ‘bring back’ the information
Step 4: Children will pack their expedition kit: Internet, computer, Binoculars, notebooks, crayons and pencils and will ‘travel’ to the country (Internet to research the  images) and complete the learning task on the Wiki.
Step 5: Students will discuss in the wiki space about their findings and post questions and response to their peers.
Step 6: Teacher will give feedback on group’s perform and understanding in using the tool  

Materials: Computer and Internet access, Caribbean Map, pencils, notebooks, binoculars
                                                                                                                                       Wiki Page
Welcome, glad you are here! I take this opportunity to welcome all of you to this your wiki page; hope you will have fun in this learning environment.
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