922D3Murphy,+Paul

Type in the content of your new page here. Paul Murphy Woonsocket Middle School Physical Education and Health Grades 6-8

Dear Dr. McGee, During the past semester, I have been taking a class, through the University of Rhode Island, on how new technology can be implememented in the classroom. The amount of information that is online is unimaginable and most of it is free to educators if you know where to look. One new piece of technology is a wiki. A wiki is an internet site where individual classes can post information, text, editorials and responses to others. This can be done through adding websites, links, pictures, videos, definitions or files to the site. Students would be able to edit, respond, and answer questions on their class wiki. With textbooks being so expensive and usually outdated in a few years, wikis are inexpensive and the information can be continuously updated by the teacher. Students will be excited to go to class and work on their wiki, instead of the old standard of sitting at your desk and opening your textbook. Teachers can assign homework, classwork, essays or peer editing to their class. Students will get instant feedback from peers on their work. With any use of the internet their are some concerns about security and safety ( Woonsocket Education Department Internet Acceptable Use Policy) and WED Network Security Policy) Each wiki must have an individual or teacher monitoring the site constantly. This will insure that the wiki is only being used for its intended use and not for inappropriate behavior. The students will be provided their own class password and only students in that one particular class would be able to access that site. Any student not adhering to these policies will be subject to disciplinary actions such as suspension from the site or teacher detention. It is very important that we keep the parents informed for the good of all so, there will be a contract sent home that will state the security and safety requirements of the student which needs to be signed by both the parent and the student. Any student not obtaining parental permission will not be able to access the site. I truly believe that using a wiki in my classroom will help students of different learning abilities. It is the future of classroom education and will cost nothing to our school district. As always, Woonsocket will be on the cutting edge of technology and provide its students with the best education it can provide. We will be moving into a brand new middle school next year and what better way to put to good use all of the new computers than to implement wikis into the everyday education of Woonsocket Middle School.
 * Wiki Proposal

Sincerly,

Paul Murphy**