Writing by Students Via Wikis

Now that several weeks have past and I have incorporated more writing opportunities for students to post writing on the ILC wiki, it is becoming a more routine tool to use. Along with a teammate, I have posted sentences which the students are to rewrite correctly applying correct puncuation, capitalization, spelling, etc. (much like the DOL of the past). Although appearing a simple task, using the wiki to post incorporates a couple of more skills, specifically we have noticed, reading carefully--especially the directions. Keyboarding, which only improves by writing, is also integrated. Many kids don't like grammar and mechanics, but being able to post and immediately see their work definitely engages them. However, I learned quickly that how I set up monitoring the posts is important...or they can just look at everyone else's edits and copy. Also, engaging or not, the need for grammar and mechanics or not, these activities are not necessarily the best use of this tool. A more exciting and more purposeful use of the wiki was when I downloaded an image from an old Sears Catalog advertisement for a bicycle (using digital primary sources from LOC's American Memory Collection) directing the students to review it carefully, reflect and use their inferencing skills to write about it. This activity allowed for them to reflect on each other's comments and respond again. We will keep experimenting and "write on"!