Teaching with Wikis
Activities for Integrating Technology into the Classroom
Wikis are a popular Web 2.0 technology with the potential for enhancing learning activities.
A wiki is a software-created web page that allows for collaboration among visitors. Anyone with access can add, edit and remove content. Pages can be linked to each other with hypertext, similar to a web site. Its rise in popularity and simplicity of use makes it ideal for use in the classroom.
Educational Connection
As with any Web 2.0 technology, wikis promote collaboration. Student writings can be made available for peer edit and peer review. Wikis also are ideal for collaborative writing assignments. They provide the ability for teachers and other students to post comments, review rough drafts and publish a final report.
Educational benefits are not limited to improving student writing. Since it is a simplified way to create a web page, wiki creation is quick to teach to middle school and high school students. Since the results are published in a web format, those with access can see the wiki from any networked computer with a browser. Collaboration skills are enhanced in a social setting with which many students are familiar and comfortable. Wikis also promote active learning and student engagement in the lesson.
How to Start
Before trying to use wikis, a teacher needs to be familiar with how they work. Choices include not only looking for a hands-on workshop but also self education. Sites such as wikispaces provide educational tours, information about lesson designs and planning and secure advertisement free space for class use.
Technology integration can be easier when the learning is shared and supported. Find a friend or colleague to also learn about wiki use. This person might be a source of ideas and advice, or perhaps even be in the classroom to assist the first time wikis are used in a lesson.
Lesson Ideas
One way to use wikis is for a small research assignment. Provide each student with a narrow research topic and a wiki page. Students then individually research the topic and post their findings in an appropriate length report. Students can then review each other's work, looking for not only grammar and spelling errors, but also critiquing sentence structure and research sources. This is also a good way to encourage discussion about copyright law as it applies to web resources.
Another way to use wikis is for project planning. When working with another class, school or a specialist in the field, a wiki provides a convenient way for all involved to post meeting notes, brainstorm, share ideas and list project steps. The final report for the project can be created in a wiki page for collaboration no matter what geographical distances involved.
Wikis are also convenient for peer editing and reviewing. Students would post a writing assignment, whether a paragraph, small essay or major paper that would then be available for comments from peers and the teacher. This allows students to learn from each other and also provides an avenue to dissuade plagiarism not only from online sources but also between students.
