Wiki Project Version 2.0

Coming toward the end now of the second incarnation of the Wiki project. As I said before, we've been focusing on it a bit less in class, trying to have a more balanced approach, and focusing more on getting everybody doing similar projects rather than very different things from one another. It's been going OK, but now, with only four days left, the Wikis are almost completely empty! The students have told me they want to do their project stuff at home; and also, with one other teacher doing the wiki project, time in the computer room has been at a premium.

The projects themselves have been a little more focused this time around. I wanted the students to focus on their identities and the potential they have for developing Oman in the future. So the main project they've done is thinking of a change they want to create in Oman, and making a presentation about a way they think could be taken to achieve that aim. Students have made presentations about how to improve women's rights, improve the state of Omani football, improve the environment in Oman... all sorts of stuff. The presentations are due to be given tomorrow, so we'll see how good they turn out.

I'm not sure I'm really satisfied with either incarnation of the project, though. There have been several problems which have been hard to solve. The main one is plagiarism. The students are incredibly indisciplined here. They will take things one hundred percent from the internet and not feel any need to credit it. Another problem is discipline - as I think would be a problem for these age groups anywhere, really. For every two students working hard and trustworthy while working alone, there's at least one who will be using that time to chat and have a laugh with his (or her) friends. My colleague Ben has also had this problem.

Ideally, I think a Wiki should be viewed as an option for language learners, but not as the foundation for a course. That's rather too vague. If you start with the wiki and ask the students to create work for that... there is so much potential that the students simply don't know where to start. Better, I think, to start either with what the students or teacher actually want to work on in class - i.e. the changes in Oman thing - use that as the basis for more traditional ELT style activities; and then make the students aware of the option of using a wiki to present their ideas. A project for a project's sake may not be suh a good way to go, I guess. But, of course, the more time spent on traditional ELT type stuff in class, the less time there is available for students to work on any projects they want to do. It's tricky; and I'll almost certainly be leaving Muscat before I get a chance to work on a better way of doing things. So I guess I need to hope that I havbe managers in the future who are willing to let me do my own thing in my YL classes, as they have done here.

Quite possibly that might be it for this wiki. I'm very tired and looking forward to a holiday, starting on Wednesday, and I'm not sure I'll have time to post again before that. If not, then thanks to all those who have been reading and posting comments; all very appreciated.