Interactive Wiki Assignment Brainstorming Session

Assignment:

Using the scenario detailed below, brainstorm for ways to include collaborative learning activities in Information Literacy sessions.  Design at least one small group activity that could utilize a wiki or other groupware tool. 

 

Consider the following:

 

• the time needed for the activity,

   

• the ideal size of the groups,

   

• any materials that would be provided by you - handouts, examples,  resources, instructions, etc., and

   

• how you would implement the activity and set the tone. 

   

Please be prepared to share your results with the audience. 

 

 

 

Prompts:

Based on the scenario, what would you plan to cover in an ordinary instruction session?

 

How would you adapt your lesson plan objectives to include collaborative learning activities like small group work?

 

How could you adapt small group activities to wiki use?

 

Scenario 1:

Psychology 290 - Research Methods: Students are assigned a psychological disorder (clinical depression, post traumatic stress disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, etc), and a treatment (drug therapy, behavior therapy, or cognitive-behavior therapy). They are asked to find three scholarly articles on the disorder and the treatment and write a critical synthesis of the three articles. The instructor would like the students to use PsycINFO and to focus on locating clinical trials.

Scenario 2:

History 300 - Historiography: Students are asked to research a topic, event or person in 20th century American history and compare the treatment through texts across three different decades (Eg. Teapot Dome Scandal in 1930s, 1970s and 1990s). Research includes critical reception of the texts which may require use of older review periodicals (on microfilm). The instructors often provide a list of topics selected by students for this project prior to the session.

Scenario 3:

Business 250 - International Business: Students are assigned a research project - the CIRCLE Project (acronym for Company, Issues, Region, Country, Leadership, and Economic environment) in which they choose any international business-related topic.Throughout the semester they explore their topic, develop a research question, and answer that question while considering recommendations and future implications. Some examples from past semesters have included: Wal-Mart and ethics, unemployment in the European Union, Foreign Direct Investment in Iraq.

Scenario 4:

English 274 – Literary Criticism: Students are required to complete a research paper on one of the required texts (e.g. Othello) as examined through the lens of one area of critical theory (e.g. Feminist, Structuralist, Marxist) including at least 30 sources – scholarly articles and books only. The instructor encourages the use of MLA International Bibliography.