Wikispaces to Support Reading

Liz AndersonISTC 702 Fall 2009

Jessup Elementary Reading Goal

• Established by School Improvement Team

• Perform at the Advanced Level in Reading– 50% of all students (grades 3-8)

by 2011-12 school year– 37.8% in grades 3-5 in 2009-10

school year

2009 Jessup MSA Results

Grade Level At Proficient/Advanced

Level

At Advanced Level

3rd Grade 81.% 24.1%4th Grade 89.5% 25%5th Grade 89.6% 44.8%Overall 87.0% 30.7%

2009 MSA 4th Grade Sub Group Reading

Data Performance/

Subgroup African-AmericanFree &

Reduced Meals

Special Ed

Desired 91% 91 80

DemonstratedProficient

85.2% 87.5% 70%

DemonstratedAdvanced

24.2% 24.1% 8.0%

Observations and Discussions with Faculty

• Class sizes increasing• Need to emphasize vocabulary skills• MSA identified weaknesses:– Ability to create connections across a

theme– Drawing conclusions and inferences– Tier II vocabulary

Wikispace Technology

• User controlled website• Users in charge of their

learning• AACPS – invited members only

(closed & semi-closed)• Tool to explore a content area • Also develops technology skills

Wikispace at Jessup• Begin incrementally,

focus on MSA skill development tasks

• Broaden to include media specific programs:– 4th Grade Book club– 5th Grade newspaper

• Elicit teacher recommendations

Initial Focus:

– Initial group is 4th grade students– Test concept–Curriculum based dictionary–Book club based reviews– Reflective writing

Future Efforts-5th Grade- Newspaper- Class dictionary- Book reviews

- 3rd Grade-Defer to 2010-2011 school year

Equipment Sources

• Current computers: 8 in media & two in classroom

• Additional hardware increases student access

• Many sources of donated equipment

• Condition and capabilities must be considered

• AACPS

Staff Development

• Media specialist certified by AACPS to offer WIKIs– Can serve as test bed for other

classes

• Classroom teachers may take on-line WIKI certification course

Why a WIKI?

• Need to assist students • Limited resources – time and

money• Meets NETS Criteria

WIKI is achievable

Bibliography• AACPS Guide to Using Wikis, downloaded November 16, 2009

• Bruns, Axel and Humphreys, Sal. Wikis in Teaching and Assessment:The M/Cyclopedia Project http://snurb.info/files/Wikis%20in%20Teaching%20And%20Assessment.pdf

• International Society for Technology in Education. National Educational Technology Standards and Performance Indicators for Students (NETS•S) 2007

• Maryland State Department of Education, www.MDK12.org

• U.S. Department of Education , No Child Left Behind Desktop Reference, 2002. http://www.ed.gov/admins/lead/account/nclbreference/reference.pdf

• Western Australia Department of Education. “The Value of Wikis in Education. “ http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/wikis/#value, 17 Nov

09