“Wikis” have been around for more than a decade, but they are just starting to take off in business, making people more aware about their benefits. Wiki.org defines wiki as “the simplest online database that could possibly work.” The article I read was very interesting, providing us with important information about wikis, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. The article points out that “wiki” was named after wiki-wiki, the Hawaiian word for quick, and that wikis are essentially Web pages that anyone — or at least anyone with permission — can create or edit.
The most well-known example of a wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia that is written and maintained by anyone who feels like it. It is an important source of information that many people rely on. If anyone makes an incorrect or inappropriate change to an entry on Wikipedia, others can automatically undo the changes, or edit them further.
Wikis are essential to use for large, multiple participants projects. It can be a useful took to keep notes, and share ideas among people. It is really easy for people to jump and revise the pages; therefore, if used effectively, wikis can be a great success.
The article I read mentioned how the Los Angeles Times created a wiki that it hoped would focus on the war in Iraq, and everyone was encouraged to rewrite it to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, the site was later spammed with porn and profanity, and was shut down after three days. We can’t blame to Times’ failure on wikis. Also, we can’t use a wikitorial to do a blog’s job. People have different opinions about the war; therefore, a blog would have been a better idea for that subject, than a wiki.
I think Wikis can be important tools to use in the classroom. Students can all work on one page, editing and adding information as they need to. Collaboration and teamwork are what make a wiki successful. On the other hand, if the teacher is looking for an exchange of views, wikis are not the best tool. Airing opinions, and carrying on conversations or debates, require the use of a blog, not a wiki.
Also, I think wikis are great for team projects, and a central location where the information can be viewed and edited by all students. Wikis are great project management tools for teachers to use, very cheap, and sometimes even free. Teachers can also manage and organize notes, agendas, and calendars for their students to read and follow.
In my opinion, if a wiki is to be used in the classroom, the teacher must take responsibility for its use. Students are to make sure that what they are editing or posting is appropriate and legitimate for the assigned topic.
I think I would like to do further research concerning the use of wikis in the classroom today. I wonder if teachers are taking this opportunity, to have their students work on group projects, where they can all participate, creating their own wiki. That way, they can all learn from each other, and learn to work with one another. Also, I would like to find out which one is more popular in the classroom, blogs or wikis? Which ones are teachers using more these days, and why a particular one over another?
This article can be found at the following link:
5 comments:
Wow, great job!! I really enjoyed how you explained the difference between blogs and wikis.
I also enjoyed reading about the example of the war wiki, and what happened. I would hope that wikis that are used for eduacation purposes will not have those types of profanity in them.
I think wikis would work in a classroom even for opinions. I think it may even be very interesting. I just question the tracking, and if it really truly works. I definitely agree that the responsibility will be on the teacher, and partially the students. I would hope that the students would be able to keep there text to a professional level-after all it is for school. Unfortunately, there are those students who like to push, and therefore those students who do not keep it professional, I hope the tracking works, and the teacher will take care of the situation.
I think you did a great job on defining what a wiki was and all its uses. It's interesting that they tried to have a wiki to focus on the war in Iraq; wikis are a great place for people to collaborate around the globe.
As far as in the classroom, I agree with you that the teacher needs to be in control and monitor the editing that the students are doing. I feel it is too easy for students to make mistakes and as long is they are corrected, wikis can be essential for the learning process.
I agree that more research should be done with their uses in the classroom. It would be neat to see which method is more effective for children, blogs or wikis.
I had no clue that "wiki" came from the hawian word meaning "quick". Very interesting. I agree that it could be a useful tool for writing notes. However, I do not think it is the best tool for teaching and learning. It is great if you want your students to form an opinion on a subject, but I think it does not suffice in teaching students a lesson on a subject. You did a great job covering the subject though!
It was very interesting to read your summary. I personally don't know a lot about wikis and your blog helped me. Even after reading my article about the different things a wiki can do I didn't know that people could spam it and that it wasn't an efficient way to communicate. After learning a little more about it I think they are a great idea for projects but think, like you said, the teacher has to monitor it continuously. You did a good job and picked a very informative article for those of us who don't know the wiki very well.
Very good job!!! You really explained well about everything that you read. I thought the example about wiki wars was very cool I enjoy hearing stories like that.
I also think that more research should be done on these wikis.
But I dont think it is the best way for children to learn or the best way to teach them. Good job on your blog and I really enjoyed what you had to say.
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