Today I am going to review a wiki which I located on the Multimedia Educational Research for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT) website. I will be reviewing this resource for its potential effectiveness as a teaching and learning tool. I will also evaluate the quality of content and ease of use. My evaluation will be based on the evaluation criteria for peer reviews as outlined by the MERLOT community. The direct link to this resource follows:
http://storyelements.wetpaint.com A full MLA citation can be found at the end of this blog post.
This is a wiki for instruction on Story Elements directed at second and third grade levels. I chose this resource because it encompasses foundation skills that are necessary for understanding higher level literacy applications. I also chose this resource for its potential as a re-teaching tool.
Overall, this is a good wiki. However, there are multiple broken links throughout the wiki. This reminds us that we must check and re-test the available technology before using it with our students. In this case, the authors allow you to contact them with any questions or concerns on their "conclusion/question page." This is one good solution for maintaining an active wiki.
Quality of Content:
The software presents valid models and skills that are educationally significant. Story elements are appropriately aligned to the second and third grade levels and standards. The authors thoroughly address all story elements including setting, plot, characters, main idea, and order of events.Montana Standards for Literature: "Content Standard 2- Students recognize and evaluate how language, literary devices, and elements contribute to the meaning and impact of literary works."The content further addresses standards outlined in NETS for Students 2007 and NETS for Teachers 2008. This wiki is a good example of the authors addressing NETS for Teachers 2008 standard 2: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching-Learning Tool
The materials presented in this wiki could be used at any stage of the learning process. This would include explanation, demonstration, practice, and applying. Each section has a direct teaching component (explanation). Each section also gives examples and visual examples (demonstration). Also, individual elements include practice of each concept. Students are also asked to apply this knowledge either through quizzes or completion of a task (Applying).
Students will be able to identify and apply story elements to literature they read and stories they write. This wiki is designed with appropriate tasks and graphics for second and third grade students. The authors do a very good job of including videos and graphics. The students learning is aided by visually rich explanation and demonstration. The students also engage in interactive practice activities that provide immediate feedback to the learner. This wiki can be easily integrated into the current curriculum which addresses already established standards and uses instructionally sound elements of pedagogy. This wiki could be used for teacher led instruction, independent student learning, re-teaching, or even for students who have been absent from school. The learning goals are clearly outlined as each story element is individually tabbed and provides thorough explanation, demonstration, practice and application. The learning goal is clearly to identify story elements which are broken down on the introduction page. It is my opinion that you could use this wiki to teach each element individually or together as a whole. Each area is individually addressed and so the task of learning individual story elements can be scaffolded for learning.
Ease of Use:
There are buttons initially on the introduction page and then a sidebar/menu on the left of the wiki which allows you to jump ahead, go back and explore concepts at random. The user does not get trapped or lost in the material due to the aforementioned sidebar/menu on the left of each element page. Practice activities are included for each story element with immediate appropriate feedback. However, there is no direction or explanation given for wrong answers at times. There is great flexibility in the design of the wiki as it allows the user to independently navigate and go back for review or better understanding as needed. This is only about the third wiki I have navigated through and found it to be easy to follow. I feel most second and third graders would indicate the same. I felt all graphics were age appropriate and inviting to students. Many examples were included to access students prior knowledge and relevancy to real world experiences. Character examples included but were not limited to Shrek, Cinderella, and Flat Stanley. I did not care for the streaming ad flow on the introduction page which showed a woman smoking.
Review broken down by section:
Introduction Page:
The learning objective was not directly stated at the beginning of the wiki. Tabs were included for each element.
Setting Page:
This page included a you tube video.
Plot Page:
There was a broken link on this page. The page gave both a written explanation as well as a visual representation of plot.
Character Page:
There is a written explanation and visual representation on this page. However, the link to the character map is broken.
Main Idea Page:
There are five links on this page which provide input, practice, and application. One of the links to a practice page is broken.
Order of Events:
This page includes links to practice with immediate feedback and a worksheet to apply the skill.
Tintor, Michelle and Josepph, Jennifer. "Story Elements (2nd and 3rd grade)."
Wiki website:
Tintor, Michelle and Joseph, Jennifer. "Story Elements (2nd and 3rd grade)."
