ALT-C 2008 Leeds

Steve Wheeler University of Plymouth, UK Dawn Wheeler Saltash.Net School www2.plymouth.ac.uk/distancelearning

Wiki Activities:

Five Steps Forward

Wiki activities – 5 stages (Wheeler, 2007) Exploration Exhibition Explanation Elaboration Evaluation

Wiki activities – 5 stages Exploration orientation, basic principles, making initial contact

Wiki activities – 5 stages Exhibition show and tell, share ideas, post links to resources

Wiki activities – 5 stages Explanation simple posting & editing, informing and describing

Wiki activities – 5 stages Elaboration collaboration in posting, dialogue and complex edits

Wiki activities – 5 stages Evaluation assess value, accuracy & significance of content

Wiki activities – 5 stages Exploration Exhibition Explanation Elaboration Evaluation orientation, basic principles, making initial contact show and tell, share ideas, post links to resources simple posting & editing, informing and describing collaboration in posting, dialogue and complex edits assess value, accuracy & significance of content Deeper Cognitive Engagement

Wiki activities – 5 stages Exploration Exhibition Explanation Elaboration Evaluation Social Academic Technical/Practical

Wiki Activities Establishing ‘wikiquette’ All about me Barriers to learning Gold mining Key message Mr Average In the News! To err is human What’s in a Name? Your Starter for 10… Measuring up (Evaluation) Supporting students with learning difficulties Live Wiki Example 

The Research

240 PCET students

17 Tutors

14 Cohorts across S.W. England

4 methods of data gathering:

User generated content analysis

Threaded discussion post analysis

Online Questionnaire *

Likert Scale paper based Questionnaire

What do you think are the key benefits of the wiki? The main benefit is definitely the immediacy and interactivity and the possibility of sharing and solving problems with an online support group. (FE) Vast amount of people on the wiki sites that can help you find that important information. (ML) It provides an interactive forum where questions can be asked and answered both by students and tutors. (ML) The wiki has helped to develop new IT skills and encourage the group to interact more. (PR) The final thing I would like to say is the wiki encourages others on our course to communicate to each other and in a way that you wouldn't do in email. (HE) ML = Military PR = Prison FE = Further Ed HE = Higher Ed

What do you consider to be the main limitations of the wiki? No way of knowing if someone else is on the Wiki other than checking the recent changes (PR) … . I find the Wiki too complicated it's easier to just search on the internet to find what you want and it's quicker. (PR) I did struggle with the wiki initially e.g. trying to set up links and setting up new pages but I found with a bit of patience and perseverance I was able to do it in the end. Reading the instructions in the first place helps!!! (HE) … waiting for a response. Not everyone logs on regularly for various different reasons mostly very valid ones. (ML)

Any other comments? As a tool for meeting core elements of an educational training course I see this as a valuable tool. (PR) The main problem I had was logging on, then apparently erasing someone’s work accidently (not proven). Since then I have learnt how to: make links, post messages, add pictures and make better use of the web space information. (ML) If more people use (the) wiki then discussions are likely to be posted more frequently. (ML) You are relying on everyone to use it regularly to get the full benefit so users have to be engaged with it in some way. (HE) I think the greatest benefit would be when we've left the course and can't use the student portal, it would be good to catch up with each other. (HE)

Steve Wheeler Faculty of Education, University of Plymouth, UK [email_address] www2.plymouth.ac.uk/distancelearning http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com