I
find that Wikis, Blogs and Websites are all grweat tools that can make a class
more engaging and bring it into the technological 21st century.
However,
there needs to be scaffolding for the students to be able to ensure these tools
are used as effectively as possible. Guidelines and rules should be established as a class, with guidance by
the teacher. Not only the rules but also the punishment for when the rules are
broken. So in the unfortunate case when these rules are crossed and broken the
student can not complain, as they created them.
Blogs and
Wikis develop a student’s higher order thinking which is beneficial to all
parties involved. However, when students are just regurgitating information we
have given them or they have found instead of digesting it and figuring it out
for themselves and then coming out with their own opinions this higher order
thinking is not occurring. Websites on the other hand display information for
students to link and follow rather than have influence and create themselves.
There
is a lot of potential for a wiki within a classroom. Not only for that year
level but possibly for future years to look at and reflect upon themselves.
Some of its potential includes group assignments
and as said before, students can upload ideas and work for within the year but
future students can also look at it and get ideas. Other ideas are:
- Electronic portfolios,
- Discussion forum
- Video playlist
- Analysis grid
- Lecture or poster session slides
- Bibliography
This wiki would be great to use in a classroom
for students who are in a groups working on assignments. They would be able to
all upload ideas and comments. They are all able to take an equal role in
participation, as the more reserved students are able to contribute to the group.
And when students work on it for homework, or over the holidays, they have not
‘lost’ or ‘forgotten’ all their information. All the information is in one
place so they all have it. And if students are away for the day - they haven't
missed out! There is also opportunity for the teacher to start research points
and include starting links for the information that they are required to find
(this could also depend on the age range of the students and their mental
capabilities.
Setting up a wiki for any class is a brilliant
idea however it can be done within an English class too. For example, Year 10s
are studying ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ – each student can have a character and
they, for each chapter, write how they are feeling and the emotions,
experiences and all that jazz that they are going through. Students are able
to, for this component of the subject, replace their writing books with the
wiki.
However it would have to be moderated carefully as bullying and downgrading ideas could become an issue. In order to hopefully eliminate but definitely reduce these issues, rules and guidelines would be in place that all students understand. It would be unwise for students to include other people to their wiki space. Especially people that they do not know – a class list could be given to the students and their respective wiki names, so if names do not match up, do not talk to them. This privacy issue can be resolved by making the wikis private and only allowing access to certain names. All students would have access, in some cases, to the one wiki so this privacy issue mentioned above does not really matter as much.
Wikis, within the classroom are a good idea for
teachers as storage for the syllabus and their information and resources but
also for students as they:
·
Provides
an easy and simple to use interface
·
Centralizes
multimedia sources related to paper/project
·
Facilitates
collaboration with peers on group projects and activities
·
Offers
anytime, anywhere access (Smart Teaching, 2008)
Many
positives, negatives and interesting things have been mentioned along the way
but here are some of them just to see that wikis can definitely improve a
classroom:
·
PLUS
An up to date learning tool
A changeable source of information on
what interests students
Relevant information can constantly
change, so can the wiki.
Each student is an author.
It is free,
Easy to create and use
It can be used as a collaborative tool to
gather individual research and notes and share these with rest of the class/group/teacher
It is great for students who are too shy to
contribute their ideas
Teachers are able to monitor students’ progress and
offer help
Students are able to access at any
time, day or night, anywhere!
MINUS
Other students posting on your thoughts
may
not be so kind.
not be so kind.
Students may not participate - ust like a normal classroom
It is possible for students to change other
students' answers
Can be difficult for some students to use/grasp the
concept of
Internet connection to be able to access
Cyber bulling and harassment could create
problems,
INTERESTING/IMPLICATIONS
Incorporates many multi media forms ie,links to web pages, videos etc
Blogging can be both formal and informal learning in an alternative way
Can be used in number of teaching areas and across all ages
Able to create opportunities to collaborate with other classrooms and school across the planet!
Every student will get something different out of it
It is student directed and therefore promotes higher order thinking – which teachers love!!
Can be used in number of teaching areas and across all ages
Able to create opportunities to collaborate with other classrooms and school across the planet!
Every student will get something different out of it
It is student directed and therefore promotes higher order thinking – which teachers love!!
When I am in my classroom, I want to be able to use Wikis to promote, encourage and engage learning! Maybe even on placement!
There
is an excellent amount of information and examples on these websites:
M,
Truong & A, Zanzucchi. (n.d.) Center for
research on teaching excellence teaching and technology workshop series using
wikis to enhance learning. Retrieved from http://crte.ucmerced.edu/sites/crte/files/public/documents/Using%20Wikis%20to%20Enhance%20Learning%20-%20Final.pdf
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