Ten Simple Strategies for Re-engaging Students

 
Marcinek, A. (2010, November 21). Ten Simple Strategies for Re-engaging Students | Edutopia. Edutopia. Retrieved December 9, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/reengaging-students-andrew-marcinek
            In this blog posting, an English teacher talks about using a wiki as a collaborative writing tool that is open, transparent, and fun.  He states that most of his students have machines in their pockets that can access the world outside of their classroom.  He feels that maybe that is a place where he can take his class, since that is a place many of his students want to be since they are spying at handheld devices underneath their desks.  He states that with the collaborative wiki, students are learning that mistakes are not just marked wrong, but as opportunities for growth and steps in learning.  He states that a wiki allows his students to write for more than just an audience of one (him) but for the whole world, and ask them “is this any good?”  He writes that this process prevent coasting and just writing for a grade but actually promoting the process of writing.
            I thought that Mr. Marcinek was onto something with this blog post.  He understands that some students will just go through the motions and write for a grade, and really miss what they should be learning--the process of how to write.  Mr. Marcinek’s ideas seemed to be genuine and would really inspire student participation.  I also believe that he is correct in assuming that students really do want to do work online, and in a participatory and contributory fashion.  This is an environment that many students are very comfortable in.  The teacher should really ask his students how they would like to do things.  Some may not be comfortable processing their writing online.  Either way the project should be presented to their students in a fun way.  I agree that the students shouldn’t be afraid to make mistakes and embracing mistakes as opportunities for learning, rather than turning them in and getting them marked wrong, and handed back.  This seems like a very good strategies for not only English construction, but writing for history as well.