Educational Wikis

Wikis provide a virtual space for people to collaborate online, research together, and contribute to a body of knowledge in a similar vein as Wikipedia. I learned how to use PBwiki, a good tool for education purposes, and have integrated using wikis in the Web 2.0 Tools for Teaching and Learning course. Participants in the course will learn wiki concepts, explore resources and wiki education examples, and then participate in an “online collaboration” project working in small groups to get first-hand experience in how wikis can be used for teaching and learning. They will also apply their wiki knowledge and skills to create their own “Class Wiki” for their students to use in a school setting. The Course Wiki that I created will be used extensively throughout the course to consolidate participants' work and for the online collaboration project.

I think that wikis are a great Web 2.0 tool for students to collaborate in a global context. I like the idea of students working together to create all types of “content” (text, images, audio, video, presentations, etc.) that is published in their wikis. I think a natural by-product of collaborating on a wiki project is that students will hone information literacy skills and writing skills, while learning about copyright, fair use, and ethical practices. I like that students can work on a wiki any hour of the day and from any location as long as they have access to a computer with Internet access and Web browser. What’s particularly awe-inspiring is the very real potential for students in other states and other countries to collaborate on problem-based and inquiry-based projects to create content. In addition, with the $100 laptop initiative that is being implemented in poorer school districts and third-world nations through One Laptop per Child (OLPC) and other organizations, the possibility of narrowing the education gap by providing greater educational opportunities may become a reality. Perhaps greater cultural understanding among nations and tomorrow’s leaders may also be possible.

(image source: http://writingwiki.org/default.aspx/WritingWiki/For%20Teachers%20New%20to%20Wikis.html)