Integrating Technology: 
Using Wikipedia to Improve Critical Literacy: 
Skills and Practice

Harness the collaborative nature of Wikipedia as a source of instruction and practice for knowing and doing! Though many teachers are familiar with Wikipedia by name, many are not aware of the learning opportunities that it offers. Because Wikipedia is peer created, it offers truly authentic publication opportunities for teachers in all content areas! Moreover, the variety of options for student posting addresses differentiated learning by content, product, and process!

This full or half day workshop acquaints teachers with how Wikipedia can strengthen reading comprehension and critical literacy while engaging students in authentic, motivating research and writing. Moreover, teachers will learn how Wikipedia can track student participation and assist teachers in evaluating achievement gains. This workshop also acts as a springboard to launching district-wide professional development on wiki technologies to support content learning.

Integrating Technology: 
Building Wikis to Support Content Learning

Classroom wikis engage students and stretch learning while building real world and cross curricular academic experiences. Check out "My Teaching Wiki" and see what a variety of technology can be incorporated into a wiki. Help your teachers become "wiki-masters" who use simple cutting edge technology for individualized and collaborative learning. This workshop requires computer accessibility to all participants. Productive use of time results in lessons that can be immediately put to use by teachers and students in all content areas.

This professional development series is best presented as a series of half and whole day sessions that allow teachers time to practice as they gain experience and confidence to transform standards driven curriculum into engaging and relevant lessons using technology.