Wikis for improved education in knowledge management Arthur Shelley actKM Conference October 2008 Canberra

Flow of knowledge exchange Why use wikis in education? What were the outcomes? What is industry doing? Who else is using wikis for education purposes? Summary thoughts

Why use wikis in education?

What were the outcomes?

What is industry doing?

Who else is using wikis for education purposes?

Summary thoughts

Why use a wiki for education? Facilitate collaborative interactions between students Moderate competitive behaviours. Student given a related topics for the assignment. Assessed on their own content and how well they link their topic to the other students’ topics. Reward for sharing knowledge rather than hoarding. Key Outcome: Professionals who understand the value of building relationships, networks, sharing knowledge and leveraging each others intellectual assets.

Facilitate collaborative interactions between students

Moderate competitive behaviours.

Student given a related topics for the assignment.

Assessed on their own content and how well they link their topic to the other students’ topics.

Reward for sharing knowledge rather than hoarding.

Key Outcome:

Professionals who understand the value of building relationships, networks, sharing knowledge and leveraging each others intellectual assets.

Principles of wiki based learning Actively learn together across topics rather than compete for the same information. Collectively build volume from multiple research disciplines. Broad coverage of knowledge-related content, cross-linked. Hand on access to Web 2.0 tools (for a common purpose) Dialogue behavioural and relationships to enhance learning. Understand aspects of differences in how people learn. Why the principles of KM are important to career development. Reinforced value of social interactions. Provided a learning experience where they learn from each other in a highly productive way.

Actively learn together across topics rather than compete for the same information.

Collectively build volume from multiple research disciplines.

Broad coverage of knowledge-related content, cross-linked.

Hand on access to Web 2.0 tools (for a common purpose)

Dialogue behavioural and relationships to enhance learning.

Understand aspects of differences in how people learn.

Why the principles of KM are important to career development.

Reinforced value of social interactions.

Provided a learning experience where they learn from each other in a highly productive way.

Course administration Outcomes for the students far outweighs the minor additional work to set it up. Everything on-line including feedback Administration and marking simpler. No lost hardcopy assignments Minimised monitoring who has handed what in. 60% course assessment built within the wiki. Half individual work and half group work.

Outcomes for the students far outweighs the minor additional work to set it up.

Everything on-line including feedback

Administration and marking simpler.

No lost hardcopy assignments

Minimised monitoring who has handed what in.

60% course assessment built within the wiki.

Half individual work and half group work.

Output examples

Output examples

Output examples

Interesting Insights: Wiki Traffic Spot the assignment due date! (and the interim check date)

Sample student feedback The interactive learning is great, putting theory into practice is always fun and easier to remember, sort of accidental learning. I thought the wiki was a great exercise, the individual one especially with the links to be made to other pages ensures that you get a chance to read others work as well. In that way it helped me cover more areas and gain new knowledge. The group discussion definitely did help a lot …

The interactive learning is great, putting theory into practice is always fun and easier to remember, sort of accidental learning.

I thought the wiki was a great exercise, the individual one especially with the links to be made to other pages ensures that you get a chance to read others work as well. In that way it helped me cover more areas and gain new knowledge. The group discussion definitely did help a lot …

Sharing the learnings with others Vodcast Podcast Interview Personal assistance Email, phone How to create a Wiki: http://www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/bus/public/wikis/wiki_00/site/wiki_00.html

Vodcast

Podcast

Interview

Personal assistance

Email, phone

Small survey: Wiki usage Number of participants in poll = 69 Participants are KM experts present at the webinar held by Serebrum on July 30, 2008 Source: Serebrum Corporation

Large survey: Web 2 usage McKinsey Quarterly Global Survey July 2008

Large survey: Key tools McKinsey Quarterly Global Survey July 2008

Global volunteer initiatives

Global volunteer initiatives

On-line KM course using Wiki http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/connectivism/

Wiki constructed KM text http://ltc.umanitoba.ca/KnowingKnowledge/index.php/Main_Page

Wiki in Project Management “ Wikis have worked very well so far as a tool for sharing and communicating project information…. .. successfully been used by the Alaska Airlines Project Management Organization and the IT Division. They have permeated our organization….. … most compelling are both their democratic nature and their ability to capture the knowledge of contributors.” John Petroske, Project Manager, Alaska Airlines Promoting Project Communication Using Wikis. ProMAC Conference, Anchorage Alaska. Sept 2008

“ Wikis have worked very well so far as a tool for sharing and communicating project information….

.. successfully been used by the Alaska Airlines Project Management Organization and the IT Division. They have permeated our organization…..

… most compelling are both their democratic nature and their ability to capture the knowledge of contributors.”

John Petroske, Project Manager, Alaska Airlines Promoting Project Communication Using Wikis. ProMAC Conference, Anchorage Alaska. Sept 2008

The Visual Wiki http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ52ORG89Yg Visualise relationships between “linked items” using graphics rather than just standard links. Freebase Thinkbase Thinkmap John Hosking University Auckland Google TechTalks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ52ORG89Yg

The Visual Wiki: Business process Two way integration: Change graphic opens a wiki page for content Change wiki and new graphic links occur in visual

New wiki pattern research

Wikipedia: Shared collective

Conclusions: Using wikis in education Reinforces collaborative behaviours & sharing. Demonstrates collective value, broadens K scope. Improves quality through experimentation. Increases interactions between learners. Generates collective & creative use of functions. Provides continuous two way learning. Enables emergence and historical elements.

Reinforces collaborative behaviours & sharing.

Demonstrates collective value, broadens K scope.

Improves quality through experimentation.

Increases interactions between learners.

Generates collective & creative use of functions.

Provides continuous two way learning.

Enables emergence and historical elements.

Contact Arthur Shelley [email_address] [email_address] +61 413 047 408