Wikis As A Tool For Developing Information Literacy

Wikis as a Tool for Developing Information Literacy and Collaborative Skills: The Work and Family Wiki Project Laurel Vaughan Newman, Ph.D. University of Illinois at Springfield

What is a wiki?

Named for Hawaiian word “quick”

Interlinked web pages

Easily created and edited by anyone with access

Read/write web aka Web 2.0

Why are wikis useful?

Support collaborative activity

Provide way for groups to interact

Actively edit an evolving website related to topic of mutual interest

Tracks revisions and allows for reversion to previous edition

Examples of Wiki Uses

Repository of knowledge, web links, audio files, photos

Evolving, collaboratively written report or paper

Project management tool

Student authored study guide

Student authored glossary

Website review

What are the key features of a wiki?

Ability to easily add or update web content

WYSIWYG editing

Ability to upload text, audio and image files

Easily link to other web pages

Ability to review previous versions of web pages and, if deemed necessary, revert to earlier editions.

Plug ins for tables, lists, equations, maps, synchronous text messaging, google gadgets

The Wiki Movie http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

Example of a Wiki Assignment

Work Family Wiki Project

Collaborative annotated webliography

Uses pbwiki.com

Used in my class “Work, Family and Community: A U.S. Perspective”

Learning Outcomes:

Development of critical thinking skills

Development of the ability to support conclusions with evidence

Development of knowledge about information and research related to the areas of work, family and community

Assignment Criteria

Critique 2 websites relevant to the work & family area.

Select a site from list

Do not duplicate those posted by other students.

Assignment Requirements

Website name

URL

Website Overview

Author or Source

Intended Audience

Quality of site

Relationship to Work, Family & Community (i.e. what I learned that relates to class by exploring this site

Other comments

Evaluating Websites

Accuracy

Authority

Objectivity

Currency

Coverage

Kapoun, 1998 http:// www.lib.umd.edu/guides/webcheck.html University of Maryland University Libraries Checklist for Evaluating Web Sites http://liblearn.osu.edu/tutor/les1/ net.TUTOR from The Ohio State University Libraries Evaluating Web Sites http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webeval.html Cornell University Library Evaluating Web Sites: Criteria and Tools http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html UC Berkley Library Information Services Finding nformation on the Internet: A Tutorial URL Source Page Title

Using PB Wiki

Set up account

Set up wiki shell

Provide students with writing access

Provide students with editable pages and instructions.

Creating a new page

New sidebar with links:

Creating student pages in Wiki Instruction Page

Back to Wiki Instruction Page

Why have a wiki assignment in a management or business course?

A wiki is more than just software for enabling multiple people to edit Web Sites. It is a metaphor for a new era of collaboration and participation… ( Wikinomics – Tapscott & Williams, 2008)

Rapid adoption of web 2.0 tools such as wikis in modern organizations makes familiarity with their use an essential 21 st century work skill for business students. (Duffy & Bruns, 2006)

Facilitates the type of deep learning that requires learning activities to be social, active, contextual, engaging and student oriented. (Careman & Haefner, 2002