This document discusses using wikis in the classroom. It notes that wikis can improve learning by putting learning in students' hands with guidance and encouraging collaboration and engagement. Wikis allow for multiple authors, sharing, and collaboration. Students generally like wikis as they allow 24/7 access to materials and a sense of ownership. Some challenges are that students may be uncomfortable with collaboration, self-directed work, or critiquing peers. Best practices include providing training, clear expectations, modeling collaboration, and choosing a multifunctional platform.

1. Wikis in the classroom Mitzi Lewis, Midwestern State University “Options for Online Delivery” panel AEJMC 2011 conference AuguST 10, 2011

3. WHY WIKI? Journalism and mass communication are changing… So is the way we teach!

4. Source: David Wiley, 2010 TEDXNYED

5. Source: David Wiley, 2010 TEDXNYED

6. Why wiki? Improve learning Put learning in the hands of students, with your guidance Encourage collaboration, engagement Save time Stay organized Convenient access

7. WHY WIKI? "I can do in five minutes now what would take me 15 when I was hunting for physical files and bringing them to the copier. That’s a pretty big savings when you multiply it by several classes each, several times per week.” – Marjorie Gross, Carteret Community College

8. WHY WIKI? ”I like how the wiki interface makes editing the web page very easy. In fact, it’s much easier than [other] web page resources…or the Blackboard course platform.” – Steven Alan Carr, Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne

9. WHAT IS A WIKI? Wiki – Hawaiian for quick Easily edited web page Allows for multiple authors, sharing, and collaboration

11. Types of Wikis Compare these and many more at wikimatrix.org Source: Stewart Mader, 2008

12. Ways to Use Wikis for Teaching Supplement traditional classes Deliver content for online classes

13. Ways to Use Wikis for Teaching Connect Collaborate Organize Discuss Peer review Final product Document Syllabus Schedule Assignments Resources FAQ

15. Students Like Wikis 24/7 access to course materials Clarify/reinforce understanding from class Ownership

24. Students Like Wikis “The wiki was a great idea. It helped me stay updated and I liked being able to communicate with the other students.” (supplemental) “You are including most everything we need to know on the weekly lesson page. It is very helpful to have it right there, instead of digging back through older pages to hunt down what we need to do. The embedded links take us right where we need to be for each weeks studies. You give lots of hints and instructions.” (online)

25. Common challenges Students can be uncomfortable with: Software Collaboration Self-directed work Critiquing/editing others’ work Technology Source: Barbara Schroeder, 2008

26. HOW OPEN? Source: University of Deleware, 2008

27. Best Practices Stress (a) your (potential) limitations from the outset and (b) the idea of learning together Include detailed wiki instructions or a link on the home page and provide time and space for practice (a sandbox page is a good way to start) Do basic wiki training several times in class Post wiki conventions and require participants to abide by them (e.g., http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki_etiquette) Be patient with students and realize they may require technical assistance as they learn how to participate in a wiki environment

28. Best Practices Create a culture of trust within the wiki Provide clear and explicit course expectations Assign meaningful, authentic activities Include a common goal for collaborative activities Define and identify student roles, activities, and assessments Remind students of course deadlines and schedules Model examples of collaborative activities

29. Best Practices Use two wikis for each class – one for course materials and one for collaborative student assignments Choose a platform that is multifunctional Keep a close eye on your wiki – I’ve had some hijackers add spam Understand versioning Link to other social media and websites and have students do the same

30. Best Practices Keep the wiki open and solicit input from professionals Keep the wiki private when sharing non-public information Make students use the wiki – it needs to be a requirement (for a grade), posting and editing Use for assignments in smaller classes – can be tricky to grade assignments with larger classes

31. What do I need to get started?

32. What do I need to get started?

33. Best practice sources & examples Barbara Boise Steven Alan Carr Helen Caple Kay Colley Donica Messing Ian Reilly David Wiley

34. Questions/comments Contact info: Email:mitzi.lewis@mwsu.edu Twitter: @mitzilewis LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mitzilewis Google+: gplus.to/mitzilewis

35. Video and image sources http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NugRZGDbPFU http://www.aejmcstlouis.org/home/aejmc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY http://opencontent.littleotak.org/wiki/index.php?title=New_Media,_Social_Media,_and_Learning_Syllabus http://com531.pbworks.com/w/page/13782051/syllabus http://writingformassmedia.pbworks.com/w/page/14929197/FrontPage http://editingtxwesleyan.pbworks.com/w/page/18572641/Other-Wikis-for-Mass-Communication-Courses http://jour101.wikispaces.com/home http://arts1091.unsw.wikispaces.net/ http://waysofseeing.wetpaint.com/page/Syllabus http://www.udel.edu/sakai/training/printable/wiki/Wikis_in_Higher_Education_UD.pdf http://www.images-graphics-pics.com/signs/safety/clipart.asp?pic=no-money-down-loan http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cloud_computing_icon.svg