wikis+for+learning

Wikis in the classroom A wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to create and edit web page content using any web browser. The concept was originated by Cunningham Ward in the 1980’s, who later described it as 'the simplest online database that could possibly work'. [|Wiki wiki web] was the first site to be called a wiki. A feature of wikis are that they can be edited easily by users, thus allowing for a collection of ideas to develop. This lends itself extremely well to practical learning applications. In other words wikis can be used to effectively facilitate computer supported collaborative learning. It promotes interaction between students and it makes possible the sharing and circulation of knowledge as well as specific skills amongst a group of learners. These collaborative learning experiences are student centred and enable students to share authority and responsibility for building on their own initial or foundational knowledge and to reflect on the shared knowledge of the group. The website www.learningwiki.com is an example of a computer supported collaborative learning environment. The following is a list of examples that wikis could be used for in the classroom:


 * Collaborative projects among student groups** - Project based learning. Wikis act as a great organiser for students working co-operatively on a group project. The discussion and email features allow for students to communicate asynchronously, so time together never becomes an issue. Wikis make it possible to track student participation in a project for assessment purposes.


 * Class texts**- study guides where each student is responsible for adding relevant content to help the class create a study guide through the wiki. Students would be able to pull in a multitude of resources from around the web and from text sources.


 * Vocabulary or wikidictionaries**- students build a virtual word-wall online as they learn new vocabulary throughout a year. At the end of the year, they can reflect back on the building process.


 * Have focused classroom discussion**- wikis allow you to extend the classroom discussion beyond the 40 or 70 minutes we see them. Also, it has been the experience of several of the teachers in our district that reticent students will contribute more to online wiki discussions. We call this the [|"drive-home" effect] (thanks, Jo).


 * Bring back "Choose Your Own Ending" stories**- have students create a story that has multiple plots and endings using the wiki to link out to the various choices that the reader can make. See "The Holocaust Wiki Project" below for a better understanding.


 * Collaborative Writing** in terms of class newspapers, storytelling, poetry, correcting and evaluating samples of writing, etc.


 * Brainstorming** of ideas and key questions.


 * Project resource pages**- use a wiki to house all of the resources for your project, including how to's and videos to help the students understand concepts.


 * International Collaboration**- use a wiki as a homebase for a collaborative project with another school. The open access allows any member with an internet connection to be a part of the wiki.


 * Create a Presentation**.
 * Digital Portfolio**- teachers and students alike can use a wiki to create a showcase of their work over a selected time period for reflection and review by others.

By collaboratively participating in the learning process students don’t only passively receive visual and verbal information, but they are actively part of constructing their own knowledge – learning theory at work! During this whole process students learn to become collaborators, synthesizers, problem solvers, explainers, evaluators, etc. An explanation of why wikis are used in the classroom with links to examples can be found at: [|http://www.slideshare.net/coolcatteacher/wikis-in-the-classroom.]
 * Create Responsible Internet Users**- Wikis allow you to place extraordinary power in the hands of the students, and as Peter Parker's Uncle said, "With great power comes great responsibility." Wikis need to be monitored and edited regularly, so by giving jobs to students as editors and monitors, you are asking them to [|police themselves].

Finally, something to consider when using using wikis in the classroom as an infomation source. Much debate has taken place about the use of wikis to gater information due to its 'open' nature. Anyone is able to edit the text, so as a result, as [|Any Carvin] argues, this means information in sites like Wikipedia in particular, is very difficult to vaildate and consequently, makes many educators hostile towards uisng the website, "particularly in their concerns that it can't be considered a reliable source."