Journal 2
I chose to create the page for this student research project on wikia scratch pad, mainly because I have little experience with this type of technology, and at least I have been exposed to the wikia format in class. This is my assignment web page: http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/Cell_Structure_and_Function#Links
The learning goal of this task is to create a database of cellular structures which the students in the class will be able to access whenever they need it; whether it be for homework assignments, studying for tests, writing papers, etc. This resource will be available to the entire class whenever they need it. This will help the students accomplish the goal by being a supplement to the work done in class, other homework assignments, and the textbook. The assignment itself should not take long, allowing one or two nights to complete, and thus will not be too much of a burden on each individual student, rather they will be collaborating to make a larger, more useful work. It will be easy to observe the achievement of each student, as well as the group, because the assignment calls for each student to review and revise the work of the others in the group. Several edits to a page, will show that students’ are in fact taking the time and learning about each topic on their own. If a page is lacking substance, and has not been edited, that would be an indication that there is a problem with the group as a whole, and should be addressed. I feel this should not be the only task to learn about cell structure and function, but should be followed up with more complicated and creative assignments.
I learned from this task, a good way to give homework assignments that will encourage students to complete them properly and promptly, while learning on their own. Because the creation of the page is a collaborated effort, students’ will feel obligated to do their, small, part for the project. Because the assignments is an online task, students’ are made to complete the task when the have free time, and access to a computer, rather than scribbling some words copied out of a book, minutes before class begins. It also allows each student to complete their own, unique assignment, rather than copying from a classmate, and still benifit from each other students’ individual task. This type of project is certainly a revolution, maybe even a revival, in homework.
