Why Wiki...and For What?

Why
…and for what?

Hi, my name is Patrice.

Welcome to my little foray into the world of wikis!

We all know what a wiki is by now, right?

To refresh, let’s take a peak at what the (in)famous Wikipedia has to say.

So that’s a wiki, but why use a wiki and for what?

Let’s start with the “why”.

Why?
The Nuts and Bolts

Wikis…1

Wikis…1
are free

Wikis…1
are free
are easy to set up

Wikis…1
are free
are easy to set up
are easy to use, update and monitor

Wikis…1
are free
are easy to set up
can be used on PCs or on Macs

Wikis…1
are free
are easy to set up
can run on older computers

Wikis…1
are free
are easy to set up
function with a slower Internet connection

Wikis…1
are free
are easy to set up
can be accessed at home and at school

Wikis…1
are free
are easy to set up
can be accessed at home and at school
supply easy access to information due to keyword
search

Beyond The Nuts and Bolts
An Educational Perspective2

“Wikis enact knowledge building with and for others. The focus is on the community itself rather than on the individual learner. (Holmes, Tangney, FitzGibbon, Savage, & Mehan, 2004). The implications of communal constructivism for the university context are of particular import. In the words of Holmes et al. (2001), “What we argue for is a Communal constructivism where students and teachers are not simply engaged in developing their own information but actively involved in creating knowledge that will benefit other students. In this model, students will not simply pass through a course like water through a sieve but instead leave their own imprint in the development of the course, their school or university, and ideally the discipline.”3

The “Pedagogical Potential”4 of Wikis

Wikis…

Wikis…
maximize interplay

Wikis…
maximize interplay
“When students do not like what they see-for example, the approaches taken by others-they may act to create otherwise.” (Scardamalia et al. 1994)5

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
All can participate.

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
Students can take time to think so what they write can be well-considered.

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
use technology that is text-based

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
This places greater emphasis on quality content creation and/or comprehension.

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
promote negotiation and collaboration

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
Non-hierarchical decision making can occur between students.

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
permit collaborative document editing

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
Mutually edited content has the potential to improve the quality of ideas.

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
make feedback very public

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
Wikis provide a great opportunity to read and respond to others.

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
enable anonymity

Wikis…
maximize interplay
are democratic
work in real time
enable anonymity
With this anonymity comes responsibility. A teacher’s role is to provide guidance here.

So now we have a handle on the “whys” of wiki. Let’s talk about what we might use them for.

For What?

For What?
Wikis can be used to…6

For What?
provide internal communication

For What?
create a collaborative environment

For What?
guide research

For What?
guide research
create rich classroom experiences

Let’s get specific!

Internal Communication

Web pages tend to become out-of-date because only a few people add and maintain content. Not so with wikis.

Since anyone can add to a wiki, communication amoung users can be more timely and relevant.

InternalCommunication
Since anyone can add to a wiki, communication amoung users can be more timely and relevant.
Have you thought about using a wiki as a portal for assignments and to provide additional resources for your class?

Some examples of wikis used for internal communication

Classroom example: http://westwood.wikispaces.com
A great initiative by Vicki Davis at Westwood Schools

Classroom: http://westwood.wikispaces.com
Staff Library: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu
University of Minnesota Library

Classroom: http://westwood.wikispaces.com
Staff Library: https://wiki.lib.umn.edu
University of Minnesota Library
Canadian: http://hlwiki.slais.ubc.ca/index.php/UBC_HealthLib-Wiki_-_A_Knowledge-Base_for_Health_Librarians

Collaborative Environment

Collaboration=the exchange of ideas and knowledge within a group

The use of a wiki can expand collaboration into a very large audience

The use of a wiki can expand collaboration into a very large audience.
A wiki is an ideal way for libraries to be at the centre of the schools, campuses and communities they serve.

The use of a wiki can expand collaboration into a very large audience.
A wiki is an ideal way for libraries to be at the centre of the schools, campuses and communities they serve.
A great tool for collaborative writing in schools!

Some examples of wikis used to promote collaboration

Collaboration in Elementary School:
http:www.grandviewlibrary.org/thirdGradeWikis.aspx

Collaboration in Economics:
http://welkerswikinomics.wetpaint.com/

Collaboration in Economics:
http://welkerswikinomics.wetpaint.com/
Math collaboration: http://planetmath.org

Research Guide

Research Guide
Wikis provide a great alternative to traditional subject guides or pathfinders

Research Guide
Wikis allow management of dynamic content

Research Guide
Wikis allow management of dynamic content
Wikis enable and empower librarians to create and edit their own content. No web manager required.

Some examples of wikis being used as research guides

Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki
www.libsuccess.org

www.libsuccess.org
The Biz Wiki: http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page

www.libsuccess.org
The Biz Wiki:http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page
Doucette Library of Teaching Resources:
http://wiki.ucalgary.ca/page/Doucette

Classroom Opportunities

Vicky Davis (2006) suggests you use wikis for…

“Choose your own path” stories

Lesson summaries

Lesson summaries
Collaboration of notes

Lesson summaries
Collaboration of notes
Concept introduction and exploratory projects

Will Richardson (2009) suggests you use wikis for…

Wiki book studies

Wiki book studies
creation of online texts for classroom curriculum

Wiki book studies
poetry wikis

Wiki book studies
poetry wikis
history-of-the-school wikis

Wiki book studies
poetry wikis
brainstorming wikis

Wiki book studies
poetry wikis
brainstorming wikis
Shall I go on?

Some examples of wikis being used to create rich classroom opportunities

A book study: Turn Homeward, Hannelee
http:wiki.woodward.edu/hannelee/doku.php

Mrs. Garmey’s Classroom Wiki:
http://mrsgarmey.wikispaces.com

GCSE History Wiki: http://gcsehistory.wikispaces.com

Wikibooks: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page

Wikibooks: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page
“Flat Classroom” projects: http://www.flatclassroomproject.org

Thank you for joining me in what Chad Boeninger calls “The Wonderful World of Wikis”!7

He also describes what qualities are required to create a wiki…8

“a vision”

“a vision”
“some creativity”

“a vision”
“some creativity”
“and the desire to explore something new.”

My Resources
Boeninger, C. (2007). The Wonderful World of Wikis: Applications For Libraries. In N. Courtney, Library 2.0 And Beyond: Innovative Technologies and Tomorrow’s User (pp. 24-33). Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Boyd, R. (2007). The Wiki Way. Retrieved from
http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Wikis
Davis, V. (2006). How I use Wikis. What do you do? Retrieved from
http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-i-use-wikis-what-do-you-do.html
Fountain, R. (2005). Pedagogical Potential. Retrieved from
http://www.profetic.org/dossiers/article.php3?id_article=970
Richardson, W. (2009). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.
Wiki. (2010). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki

My Footnotes(in lieu of in-text citations)
1 Boyd (2007)
2 Fountain (2005)
3 Fountain (2005) (p.1)
4 Fountain (2005) (p.1)
5 Fountain (2005) (p.1)
6Boeninger (2007)
7Boeninger (2007) (p.24)
8 Boeninger (2007) (p.33)

If you would like to read more of what I read…
Meredith Farkas at WebJunction
http://www.webjunction.org/technology/web-tools/articles/content/438229
Darlene Fichter, Using Wikis to Support Online Collaboration in Libraries http://library2.usask.ca/~fichter/articles/2006.01.Using_Wikis_to_Support_Online_Collaboration_in_Libraries.pdf

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Why Wiki...and For What?

by Patrice Mauriks on Feb 06, 2010

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Why Wiki...and For What? — Presentation Transcript