Building a classification index for the use of wikis in an educational context Nitin Parmar Learning Technologist Thursday 10 April 2008

We’ll first consider two existing models for use of wikis

Context Teaching coordinators were given the freedom to design a variety of learning activities in a wiki environment based on their individual understanding and approach. A model was developed following a pilot. Differeces bewtween the models and the nature of activities were analysed. Source: TAL-ELHASID E., MEISHAR-TAL H. (2006). Models for Activities, Collaboration and Assessment in Wiki in Academic Courses. The Open University of Israel

Collaborative Models Source: TAL-ELHASID E., MEISHAR-TAL H. (2006). Models for Activities, Collaboration and Assessment in Wiki in Academic Courses. The Open University of Israel Cooperation [1] Cooperation [1] - In this model, most of the work is performed individually by students, who each create a wiki page. Only the individual writes or edits their own page. Their peers use it solely as a resource or product .

Collaborative Models Source: TAL-ELHASID E., MEISHAR-TAL H. (2006). Models for Activities, Collaboration and Assessment in Wiki in Academic Courses. The Open University of Israel Cooperation [1] Collaboration & Cooperation [2] Collaboration and Cooperation [2] - All students work together on the same content, therefore increasing the level of collaboration. As a result of this, the content is edited and improved upon by the group. This is referred to as the process .

Collaborative Models Source: TAL-ELHASID E., MEISHAR-TAL H. (2006). Models for Activities, Collaboration and Assessment in Wiki in Academic Courses. The Open University of Israel Cooperation [1] Collaboration & Cooperation [2] Collaboration & Cooperation & Peer- Assessment [3] Cooperation, Collaboration and Peer-Assessment [3] - Collaboration is implemented with respect to all dimensions: product , process and assessment . Students work in individually or together, as well as providing peer feedback. Detailed planning of the assessment part of the assignment is required. Each student should feel comfortable enough to contribute, and the ability for one student to monopolise the assignment should be avoided.

Context Source: GEORGIA TECH (2000). A Catalog of CoWeb Uses. Collaborative Software Lab, College of Computing, Georgia Tech. CoWeb (or Swiki) has been in place for two years at Georgia Tech. Over 120 CoWeb’s have been created and used by several thousand students. Teachers and students have developed some “tremendously innovative and useful activities for learning”. Sharing examples of good practice is proving to be a challenge. The types/classes of “invented activities” need to be catalogued.

CoWeb Catalogue Distributed Information : Where teachers and students are sharing information , and the CoWeb’s role is to ease the collection and distribution of that information. Collaborative Artifact Creation : Where students are working to create an artifact (for example, a collaborative paper) are using the CoWeb to gather the pieces, assemble the work, or just to coordinate the work. Discussion and Review : Where the CoWeb servers as a place to review something (papers, ideas, designs) and critique/discuss them. Other : Those uses that do not have a category yet. Source: GEORGIA TECH (2000). A Catalog of CoWeb Uses. Collaborative Software Lab, College of Computing, Georgia Tech.

Distributed Information : Where teachers and students are sharing information , and the CoWeb’s role is to ease the collection and distribution of that information.

Collaborative Artifact Creation : Where students are working to create an artifact (for example, a collaborative paper) are using the CoWeb to gather the pieces, assemble the work, or just to coordinate the work.

Discussion and Review : Where the CoWeb servers as a place to review something (papers, ideas, designs) and critique/discuss them.

Other : Those uses that do not have a category yet.

eatbath Classification Matrix? A B C D Question : Can you think of any wikis that you have either participated in or moderated, which fall into one or more of the categories? To think about : Could this model be extended to include information about qualitative and quantitative contributions to wikis? [MEIJAS U. (2006) Wiki Evaluation Methods. http://blog.ulisesmejias.com] Working alone, but wanting to expose own work to the group Working with others, with the intention of creating a shared resource. Working alone/together, with the intention of creating a shared resource but in addition providing peer feedback “ Other”

Nitin Parmar Learning Technologist [email_address] +44 (0)1225 384 392 Colligo: Reflections of a Learning Technologist http://colligo.wordpress.com tag: eatbath-team08