Wikis are websites that can be updated quickly and easily and information can be changed or shared among many users. “The word wiki comes from the Hawaiian which means quick. “(Hendron p.33) We can quickly add or change information on a wiki without having to understand complex code. Many of us are comfortable with using word processing programs. Working on a wiki is as easy as typing a simple document. I’d like to explore why we would use wikis and some real life school applications of wikis.
Wikis are set up to resemble a word processing document that links many pages to each other. First we must choose our space. As Hendron points out there are many free places to go for wiki space. For example you can choose MediaWiki www.mediawiki.org , PmWiki www.pmwiki.org , Instiki www.instiki.org or PBWiki www.pbwiki.org .(p. 35-36) Whatever wiki space you choose you will be given instructions to set up your site and there is always help available from forums and help sections of the wiki.
Now why would we want to use a wiki? Why don’t we just create a website and go from there? What makes a wiki so special? The main difference is that we can change the content fast and easily as well as collaborate with others. I think the collaboration is what makes a wiki so interesting and popular in schools. Wikis are effective in promoting collaborative learning within classes, between classes, among schools, with parents, and with communities. (2009. Lamb & Johnson. p. 49)
The collaborative nature of wikis support the models of learning discussed in Johnston and Cooley; project based learning, multidisciplinary learning, authentic learning and academic service learning. (p.26-27) We can combine some of the models of learning and engage the students in a wiki. For example if a class is using a wiki to collect data from the community regarding a proposed development project the students could collaborate on the wiki and change their information as they progress. This example would reflect an academic service lesson.
I also want to mention Wikipedia. I have never depended upon Wikipedia for research and I know many educators feel that it is not a reliable source for information. I found an interesting article about new rules on Wikipedia that are being enforced in hopes of making it a more reliable source for information. Entries written by new Wikipedia users now will be edited by regular contributors, and changes to the biographies of celebrities or controversial figures will be reviewed before they go live on the site. (2009. Carter.p1) Also an experimental and optional new feature called "WikiTrust" reportedly will color-code every word of the encyclopedia this fall, based on the reliability of its author and the length of time it has stayed on the page. (2009. Carter. p2) Perhaps these changes will make Wikipedia more reliable but it was unclear if all information will be edited.
Citations:
Carter, Dennis. (2009). Will wikipedia's new rules garner more trust?. eSchool News, Friday, September
18, 1-3. Retrieved September 23, 2009 from: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/news-by-subject/technologies/widget/?i=60770
Johnston, M., & Cooley, N. (2001). Supporting new models of teaching and learning through technology.
Educational Research Service. Virginia.
Lamb, A., & Johnson, L. (2009, April). Wikis and Collaborative Inquiry. School Library Media Activities
Monthly, 25(8), 48-51. Retrieved September 20, 2009, from Professional Development Collection database. Persistent link to this record (Permalink): http://navigator-clarion.passhe.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=37557725&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Wikis are set up to resemble a word processing document that links many pages to each other. First we must choose our space. As Hendron points out there are many free places to go for wiki space. For example you can choose MediaWiki www.mediawiki.org , PmWiki www.pmwiki.org , Instiki www.instiki.org or PBWiki www.pbwiki.org .(p. 35-36) Whatever wiki space you choose you will be given instructions to set up your site and there is always help available from forums and help sections of the wiki.
Now why would we want to use a wiki? Why don’t we just create a website and go from there? What makes a wiki so special? The main difference is that we can change the content fast and easily as well as collaborate with others. I think the collaboration is what makes a wiki so interesting and popular in schools. Wikis are effective in promoting collaborative learning within classes, between classes, among schools, with parents, and with communities. (2009. Lamb & Johnson. p. 49)
The collaborative nature of wikis support the models of learning discussed in Johnston and Cooley; project based learning, multidisciplinary learning, authentic learning and academic service learning. (p.26-27) We can combine some of the models of learning and engage the students in a wiki. For example if a class is using a wiki to collect data from the community regarding a proposed development project the students could collaborate on the wiki and change their information as they progress. This example would reflect an academic service lesson.
I also want to mention Wikipedia. I have never depended upon Wikipedia for research and I know many educators feel that it is not a reliable source for information. I found an interesting article about new rules on Wikipedia that are being enforced in hopes of making it a more reliable source for information. Entries written by new Wikipedia users now will be edited by regular contributors, and changes to the biographies of celebrities or controversial figures will be reviewed before they go live on the site. (2009. Carter.p1) Also an experimental and optional new feature called "WikiTrust" reportedly will color-code every word of the encyclopedia this fall, based on the reliability of its author and the length of time it has stayed on the page. (2009. Carter. p2) Perhaps these changes will make Wikipedia more reliable but it was unclear if all information will be edited.
Citations:
Carter, Dennis. (2009). Will wikipedia's new rules garner more trust?. eSchool News, Friday, September
18, 1-3. Retrieved September 23, 2009 from: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/news-by-subject/technologies/widget/?i=60770
Johnston, M., & Cooley, N. (2001). Supporting new models of teaching and learning through technology.
Educational Research Service. Virginia.
Lamb, A., & Johnson, L. (2009, April). Wikis and Collaborative Inquiry. School Library Media Activities
Monthly, 25(8), 48-51. Retrieved September 20, 2009, from Professional Development Collection database. Persistent link to this record (Permalink): http://navigator-clarion.passhe.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tfh&AN=37557725&site=ehost-live&scope=site
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