Presentation from Teaching With Sakai Innovation Award second place winner.

1. Germany & the World Wars: Creating Lives on the Wiki Edith Sheffer, Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in the Humanities, Stanford University

2. Overlapping themes July 2009 2 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.

3. Open collaboration: shifting the paradigm of teaching and learning The students of History 138A and TA Andrew Visser TWISA Organizing Committee, Judges, and Sponsors Sakai Community KeliAmann, CourseWork Christine Doherty, CourseWork Allyson Hobbs, History Alan Mikhail, History Robert Moeller, History Bradley Naranch, History James Ward, History July 2009 3 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.

4. This Sakai project in the Humanities suggests how… July 2009 4 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A. Even simple tools can have powerful impact

6. Books, Document Reader

7. Analytical paper

9. Deepen historical understanding

11. Thinking through history July 2009 7 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A. “The weekly Identities assignments were somewhat like the weekly problem sets in math or science classes. In a math or physics class, it is not enough to just listen to the lecture and read the textbook; the student actually has to practice solving real problems. The Identities Project […] forced me to consider how real people actually make decisions in historical events; I felt that I was, in essence, ‘solving’ the problem of ‘how and why do ordinary people act in history’ by ‘practicing’ on my historical avatar every week.”

12. Students created historical lives on Sakai July 2009 8 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A. Just 3 restrictions…

13. First, the students constructed a childhood July 2009 9 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.

14. Each week, the students posted their characters’ life choices on the wiki The Fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification Cold War and the Iron Curtain

15. Wiki page example July 2009 11 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.

16. Wiki page example July 2009 12 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.

17. Wiki page example July 2009 13 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.

18. Wiki page example July 2009 14 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.

19. The Sakai wiki site July 2009 Update questions posted each week Students presented their characters during lecture Students shared research links Character wiki pages

20. High community standards sustained the quality of the work and a productive exchange of ideas July 2009 16 January 30, 1933 It’s happened. I cannot believe my eyes as I look down into the streets. They’ve done it. They’ve chosen an extremist to lead our country to God knows where. I thought Hindenburg would know better than that, but apparently he’s not thinking either. The street is bursting with people. I don’t want Eva going out there alone. Or with the children. February 27, 1933 The Reichstag is no more. Now there is no longer even the illusion of a democracy, for even the building is gone. I don’t think it can be reversed any longer. They’re going to crack down on the communists. I don’t necessarily disagree, but I’m afraid what might happen next. What to expect? I don’t know what to think. It’s only Eva that keeps me from losing hope entirely. She’s always so optimistic. It’s silly sometimes but she makes me feel better. March 23, 1933 Hitler can do anything he pleases now. Anything. My thoughts are in disarray. Panic. May 1, 1933 People think it’s a holiday. They are out in the

21. Sakai empowered students with a rare degree of autonomy and freedom July 2009 17 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A. Students averaged 1,121 words per post, equivalent toa 4½ page paper every week for nine weeks, including the weeks of the midterm and final paper High Investment Students went far beyond the required material, researching scholarly works, images, even things like period-appropriate children’s names and food specialties The open platform inspired authorship, imagination, curiosity, and understanding Self-motivation Students said they grew attached to their avatars, pursued individual interests through them, and discussed them with friends and family Identification

22. Understanding – and complicating – history July 2009 18 10th Sakai Conference - Boston, MA, U.S.A.