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• are easy to use, update and monitor• can be used on PCs or on Macs

Wikis…1

• are free• are easy to set up• are easy to use, update and monitor• can be used on PCs or on Macs• can run on older computers

Wikis…1

• are free• are easy to set up• are easy to use, update and monitor• can be used on PCs or on Macs• can run on older computers• function with a slower Internet connection

Wikis…1

• are free• are easy to set up• are easy to use, update and monitor• can be used on PCs or on Macs• can run on older computers• function with a slower Internet connection• can be accessed at home and at school

Wikis…1

• are free• are easy to set up• are easy to use, update and monitor• can be used on PCs or on Macs• can run on older computers• function with a slower Internet connection• 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• use technology that is text-based

This places greater emphasis on quality content creation and/or comprehension.


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration

Non-hierarchical decision making can occur between students.


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration• permit collaborative document editing


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration• permit collaborative document editing

Mutually edited content has the potential to improve the quality of ideas.


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration• permit collaborative document editing• make feedback very public


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration• permit collaborative document editing• make feedback very public

Wikis provide a great opportunity to read and respond to others.


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration• permit collaborative document editing• make feedback very public• enable anonymity


Wikis…• maximize interplay• are democratic• work in real time• use technology that is text-based• promote negotiation and collaboration• permit collaborative document editing• make feedback very public• 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


• provide internal communication


• provide internal communication• create a collaborative environment


• provide internal communication• create a collaborative environment• guide research


• provide internal communication• create a collaborative environment• guide research• create rich classroom experiences

Let’s get specific!

Internal Communication

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.



• 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

http://westwood.wikispaces.com/


Classroom: http://westwood.wikispaces.comA great initiative by Vicki Davis at Westwood

Schools

Staff Library: https://wiki.lib.umn.eduUniversity of Minnesota Library


https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/


Classroom: http://westwood.wikispaces.comA great initiative by Vicki Davis at Westwood

Schools

Staff Library: https://wiki.lib.umn.eduUniversity of Minnesota Library

Canadian: http://hlwiki.slais.ubc.ca/index.php/UBC_HealthLib-Wiki_-_A_Knowledge-Base_for_Health_Librarians


https://wiki.lib.umn.edu/

http://hlwiki.slais.ubc.ca/index.php/UBC_HealthLib-Wiki_-_A_Knowledge-Base_for_Health_Librarians

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

http://www.grandviewlibrary.org/thirdGradeWikis.aspx



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


http://welkerswikinomics.wetpaint.com/





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

Math collaboration: http://planetmath.org



http://planetmath.org/

http://planetmath.org/

Research Guide

Research GuideWikis provide a great alternative to traditional

subject guides or pathfinders



Wikis allow management of dynamic content



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 Wikiwww.libsuccess.org

http://www.libsuccess.org/



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


http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page




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




http://wiki.ucalgary.ca/page/Doucette



Classroom Opportunities

Classroom OpportunitiesVicky Davis (2006) suggests you use wikis for…


• “Choose your own path” stories


• “Choose your own path” stories• Lesson summaries


• “Choose your own path” stories• Lesson summaries• Collaboration of notes


• “Choose your own path” stories• Lesson summaries• Collaboration of notes• Concept introduction and exploratory projects

Classroom OpportunitiesWill Richardson (2009) suggests you use wikis for…


• Wiki book studies


• Wiki book studies• creation of online texts for classroom curriculum


• Wiki book studies• creation of online texts for classroom curriculum• poetry wikis


• Wiki book studies• creation of online texts for classroom curriculum• poetry wikis• history-of-the-school wikis


• Wiki book studies• creation of online texts for classroom curriculum• poetry wikis• history-of-the-school wikis• brainstorming wikis


• Wiki book studies• creation of online texts for classroom curriculum• poetry wikis• history-of-the-school wikis• brainstorming wikis

Shall I go on?

Some examples of wikis being used to create rich

classroom opportunities


classroom opportunitiesA book study: Turn Homeward, Hanneleehttp:wiki.woodward.edu/hannelee/doku.php

http://wiki.woodward.edu/hannalee/doku.php



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


http://mrsgarmey.wikispaces.com/





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



http://gcsehistory.wikispaces.com/






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




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





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

“Flat Classroom” projects: http://www.flatclassroomproject.org




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

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 fromhttp://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Wikis

Davis, V. (2006). How I use Wikis. What do you do? Retrieved fromhttp://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-i-use-wikis-what-do-you-

do.html

Fountain, R. (2005). Pedagogical Potential. Retrieved fromhttp://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 fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki

http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Wikis

http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Wikis

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-i-use-wikis-what-do-you-do.html

http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2006/08/how-i-use-wikis-what-do-you-do.html

http://www.profetic.org/dossiers/article.php3?id_article=970

http://www.profetic.org/dossiers/article.php3?id_article=970

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)

6 Boeninger (2007)

7 Boeninger (2007) (p.24)

8 Boeninger (2007) (p.33)

If you would like to read more of what I read…

Meredith Farkas at WebJunctionhttp://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

http://www.webjunction.org/technology/web-tools/articles/content/438229

http://www.webjunction.org/technology/web-tools/articles/content/438229

http://library2.usask.ca/~fichter/articles/2006.01.Using_Wikis_to_Support_Online_Collaboration_in_Libraries.pdf

http://library2.usask.ca/~fichter/articles/2006.01.Using_Wikis_to_Support_Online_Collaboration_in_Libraries.pdf