What are your thoughts about using Wikis in the Media Center? How can they be used most effectively? Are there drawbacks to Wikis?
As you perused the Wikis in this week's Course Notes, did you find uses you thought particularly strong? Particularly weak?
While Wikis are touted as collaborative tools, many seem to be passive "storage cabinets." What elements need to be present to move them toward being active spaces for collaboration?
I can see a lot of use for a wiki in a middle and especially high school setting. I think that, at the elementary level, a wiki could be helpful for teachers, but not as much for the students. As with other technology, I think it is best to see the students using the technology to improve learning more than the teachers using it as a delivery tool. At a high school level, a class could work to add projects to a wiki similar to the way we do for our class. I loved the some of the examples listed on the Wiki in a K-12 Classroom site. I especially loved the idea of creating student portfolios! I know that we are really pushing self-efficacy in my county right now and I think this is a perfect way to do that. I also enjoyed the 7 Things You Should Know about Wikis article. I think that because my knowledge of wikis is so limited, I was drawn to the articles that laid out what a wiki was and how it could best be used. I personally thought that the way Decatur High was using a wiki was a little weak. for the most part, it looked and acted just like a website and did not come across as very interactive. In order for a wiki to be a collaborative tool, I would suggest a lot of introduction and instruction. As we all know, a wiki can be a little overwhelming if you are not exactly sure how it works. Chances are, whether you are using the wiki as a staff or with students, most will be new to wikis. As the media specialist, it is our job to make sure all feel somewhat comfortable with the editing process. If someone does not feel confident, they are less likely to use to tool.
I agree - how well the new technology tool is introduced has everything to do with how well it is received and how well it is used by the students. I worked with a teacher, recently, who took her class to the lab to introduce the new technology. That lesson required the students to create accounts and complete simple, interactive lessons. This was an 8th grade set of classes, and they loved it. They loved being able to express themselves through the tool - using text, audio, or video. They loved having this form of communication to follow up with the teacher. They loved being able to ask each other questions in this cyber-place, specifically dedicated to their class and the task at hand. I can imagine, though, had the teacher not taken the time to fully orient them, including a ridiculously easy task to complete to get them started, the result may have included more frustration and resistance to using the tool.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Lisa, that wikis would be most useful on the middle and high school level. I could see using a wiki as a place for students to turn in their work for a class. It would be a great forum for sharing information with one another and for presenting projects to the class without having to spend tons of class time on presenting. I think the real key is having knowledgeable teachers and media specialists that can help students complete the necessary editing. I think there is also a place for wikis in professional development - it can be a place for teachers to share information and post sample projects from students.
ReplyDeleteYour last comment was the most powerful to me-if someone does not feel confident, they are less likely to use the tool. I totally agree, both from watching others and my own personal experience. I also agree that they have more opportunities for use in middle and high school. I also see wikis being used more for teacher collaboration at the elementary level. Our system seems to throw technology "out there" sometimes and I don;t feel that we always get the training we need to use the tool effectively. Before you know it, we are no longer supporting that tool and we are moving on to something else. For this reason, I think some teachers are reluctant to really throw themselves into learning and using some the available tools. This might just be one that sticks around!
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with your statement that Wiki's would not be useful for the students at the elementary level. Wiki's could be used for teacher collaboration but there are also many ways they can be used by the students. The students may need a little more guidance than those in middle or high school but the benefit of the technology would be the same. A wiki could be set up for literary circles for fourth and fifth grade students in order for them to share their ideas. Alternatively, a Wiki could be created in order to share science fair project. All grades create projects either as a class or independently. Students can also keep portfolios of their work, especially for art class. There are many ways in which Wiki's can be used for the elementary student. Teaching the students how to use the technology at a younger age just prepares them for use of the technology at a higher level.
ReplyDeletehttp://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Wiki_in_a_K-12_classroom
Wikis are totally new to me. Until this class I was only familiar with wikipedia. Wikis seem to be a great collaboration tool for teachers and/or students. The level to begin using wikis would depend on the student. It would be great for school projects, or club announcements, or planning a school event. Any thing that needs discussion, or input could be placed on the wike for a response. At this point Troup County blocks wiki on the network system, but maybe that should be revisited.
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