My classes use a wiki. If the classes are sections of the same course, they share the same wiki. For example, my 8, 9 and 12:30 classes are all Writing and Research so I group them together on the wiki. I have been having students from each class take class notes and post them to the wiki. As I read the notes on the same classroom topic material, I notice that although each student included the critical information, each student picked different things to emphasize more.
Now that students have gotten use to note taking, we are moving onto collaborate notes. The first person posts his/her notes and writes his/her name. Then when a person from another section of the same course logs in to post his/her notes, the second person reads what the first has written and adds to the notes or clarifies information; he or she adds her name where she added info. Likewise, the third person from another section does the same and adds examples if there exist. The quality of information has increased drastically. The initial notes get transformed into a complete set of notes that will help anyone who is absent. The notes serve as a great reminder of what we covered with specific examples. The wiki notes demonstrate that students collaborate to advance everyone’s learning.
How do your students collaborate?
My new book, Successful Student Writing Through Formative Assessment, is available through Eye on Education.
My book, Formative Assessment: Responding to Your Students, is available through Eye on Education.