Wikis are one of the many tools instructors use to incorporate technology into the curriculum. A combination of tools such as blogs, Wikis, and discussion boards should be selected by the instructor based on the features of the activity or project (West & West, 2009). The main purpose of a Wiki is to involve several authors in a common project (Chi Ng & On Choy, 2007). Wikis are a great option for collaborative activities or projects that result in a shared final product (West, 2009).
Pros for Wikis:
*Wikis are “flexible-all that is needed is a computer with a browser and Internet connection, and no special software is required” (Chi Ng & On Choy, 2007, p. 209).
*Wikis have a feature that track edits and changes to the group project (Chi Ng & On Choy, 2007). Each member of the Wiki group can monitor edits and add to the content of the page while working towards a final project.
*Free Wiki services are available which makes Wiki an affordable option for collaborating group activities. A variety of Wiki services are available on the internet and do not require additional software or equipment (West & West, 2009). Free Wiki services typically have less security and may limit the number of users (West & West, 2009).
*Wikis encourage “participatory approaches in which users become more active contributors and producers of content (Hazari, North & Moreland, 2009). Wikis intertwine efforts from a few or several individuals to create a combined final project. Wikis allow for participation from several individuals by taking turns at updating information and eventually and entire project.
Cons for Wikis:
*Chi Ng and On Choy determined that study participants that were not familiar with Wiki had technical issues, particularly in the early stages of use (2009). I have created one Wiki page while in graduate school and I support Chi Ng and On Choy’s findings. It takes time to learn the formatting rules for adding text and creative features that enhance the Wiki page. Once I learned the formatting rules, I enjoyed working with the wiki.
*As with any group work, one individual may not agree with the team on certain aspects or information displayed on the Wiki. Since each group member has the ability to edit the Wiki space, information could be altered by one member without the consent of the group.
References:
Hazari, S., North, A., & Moreland, D. (2009). Investigating pedagogical value of wiki technology. Journal of Information Systems Education, 20, 2.
West, J.A., & West, M.L.(2009). Using wikis for online collaboration. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
Chi Ng, K., & On Choy, S. (2007).
Implementing wiki software of supplementing online learning. Australasian
Journal of Educational Technology, 23(2), 209-226.
Great start on this post by mentioning that it is important to incorporate more than just Wikis into your curriculum, as I fully agree that mixing things up by using multiple tools can not only keep things interesting for students, but also forces them to look at approaching subjects from different angles, leading to stronger creative thinking. This is increasingly important, as mentioned by West & West, “critical thinking stands at the center of essential learning outcomes that all students need from higher learning and that are closely calibrated with the challenges of a complex and volatile world” (2009, p. 79).
ReplyDeleteYou also bring up a good point in that Wikis are free to build and use, which gives teachers much more freedom to incorporate it into their curriculum. With many schools and teachers feeling the effects of budgetary constraints, it is good to see some useful tools don’t have to cost a thing.
Fully agree on some students having technical issues. Even though the general formatting and function of a Wiki are pretty simple in comparison to say Microsoft Word, the overall functionality of some Wiki pages can be a bit quirky on how things align and are formatted. This can lead to someone with limited computer knowledge becoming frustrated when something as simple as a picture does not line up on the page as it should.
West, J. A. & West M. L. (2009). Using wikis for online collaboration. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Thank you for your reply! Since I mostly work with patients that vary in education level and age, I am always looking for different ways to teach detailed information effectively. I liked your comment about using different teaching methods and how it "forces them to look at approaching subjects from different angles, leading to stronger creative thinking". Since we all learn in different ways, "changing things up" helps us learn information in a new way and also helps prepare us for the ever changing professional environment. One of the most important tools we can share with our students is flexibility. Chi Ng & On Choy (2007) refer to Wiki as a "flexible" space that includes the input of many individuals with ever changing content. Flexible and changing are also two ways that I would also describe my work environment. Learning how to incorporate flexibility in your life will assist with professional and personal goals.
DeleteThank you for the discussion!
Chi Ng, K., & On Choy, S., (2007). Implementing wiki software of supplementing online learning. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 23 (2), 209-226.
Evening Christine,
ReplyDeleteYou have created an excellent and well-thought out blog. I am in agreement with your statement about the a new student experiencing "technical issues" with Wiki because I just started using Wiki last semester in EDACE 790 and I probably made every mistake possible. I did learn one very valuable lesson, ALWAYS MAKE A COPY OF YOUR POST!
On another topic though, you stated that Wikis are great a great option for collaborative activities and I agree. But, do you think that Wiki works better for some class subjects better than others? Chapter 15 of The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology demonstrates how to use a Wiki to teach History and after reading it, I am wondering if it possible to use the Wiki for all subjects or if it is most suitable for some than others. Thanks for your thought.
Tammy
King, K.P., Cox, T.C., (2011). The Professor's Guide to Taming Technology. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing Inc.
Thank you for your comment. You asked the question about using Wiki for some subjects verses others. I would have to say that there are some subjects where wiki might not be as appropriate as others. I believe in using a variety of tools to teach and I think Wiki is just one of the many. Since we all learn in such different ways, one might benefit from using wiki where another student might thrive in a zoom discussion. During our discussions in this class, I have become more interested in how different learning methods benefit varying personality types. A few classmates have mentioned their comfort with using technology based forums as introverts verses face-to-face classroom discussions. I look forward to learning more about personality and learning tools.
DeleteThank you for your input!
From my experience with wiki (very limited), I agree with your final paragraph about the ability of one or more team members to edit content and/or change formatting without the consent of others in the group. Although my two wiki experiences were very positive ones, I know I would find it frustrating if there were significant changes made to "my work". This is where the collaboration and open communication is so critical. I'm glad there is a feature that tracks our edits and changes so that each group member can monitor this. Unfortunately, I did not know about this feature on my first wiki project.
ReplyDeleteThe thing that I appreciated most on my wiki project was the collective learning, or as Hazari, North, and Moreland (2009) stated, "collective intelligence". I am currently feeling "stuck" in my wiki assignment, so I need the collective efforts of my team members as we build on each others research, pool our information, compare and contrast our findings, and hopefully we will have a finished product that is stronger and more comprehensive than I could have created working solo. As you stated, we intertwine our efforts to create a combined final project, and this is why wiki is a good tool to enhance learning.
I couldn't agree more with your post! Teamwork is essential for surviving most professional environments. By learning how to collaborate and work with individuals, the final project is enhanced. Whether you are working on a research project or a group project, the input of many triumphs over the input of one. Not to mention, the learning that takes place when discussions occur. As mentioned in King & Cox (2011), "wikis are the perfect tool for collaborating" (p. 121).
DeleteKing, K., P., & Cox, T. D. (2011). The Professors guide to taming technology: Leveraging digital media, web 2.0, and more learning : Charlotte, NC: Information Age Pub.
Oops, I forgot to list my reference above:
ReplyDeleteHazari, S., North, A., & Moreland, D. (2009). Investigating pedagogical value of wiki technology. Journal of Information Systems Education, 20(2), 187-198. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.er.lib.k-state.edu/docview/200157232?accountid=11789
Christine, I do like the editing feature that wiki provides as it help keep track of what's been done to the page (Chi NG & On Choy, 2007). I know there have been times in the past where I could not remember if I did something and I was able to look back and confirm if it either way.
ReplyDeleteThe draw back is that someone else could edit over what you did without your permission. I encouraged my group to look over (proof read, if you will) what I wrote and if they saw an error, to please change it (I didn't want my mistake to effect the group's grade). I have great group wiki projects so far, and I am thankful for that.
Chi Ng, K., & On Choy, S., (2007). Implementing wiki software of supplementing online learning. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 23 (2), 209-226.