Article #9 Wikis: Pulling it all Together Online

McCrea, B. (October 20, 2010) Wikis: Pulling it all Together Online. Retrieved from: http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/10/20/wikis-pulling-it-all-together-online.aspx

Summary:

                This article examines the use of wikis in the classroom and some of the issues that arise from their use. One use that students had for wikis was for group project work, in which students could post their research to their peers and give and receive feedback. The wiki also provides a means for parents and teachers to monitor progress of the project and intervene with direction if needed. The wiki is also a good way to display student work for their parents and the general public. The public aspect of the wiki and of online resources in general often encourages students to do better all around work, due to the possibility of exposure to peers, parents, and possibly strangers. Some drawbacks to wikis are security risks; the passwords and logins of students are not always secure. Once the passwords or logins are compromised, unwanted posts can occur. The instructor should always have the power to override posts and edit unwanted or inappropriate material. Even with this ability, sometimes it becomes a problem to keep on top of it.

Response:

                Wikis are useful for many of the reasons outlined above, but I don’t think it is a cure-all or substitute for face-to-face interaction in group work. They are useful for many aspects of group work, but may be better suited for brainstorming, sharing of resources, or discussion rather than actually formulating a solid group plan. The wiki as a means of displaying student work is interesting, but displaying of work may be better suited to a website for the class, as I don’t see much need for multiple users to edit and post in this respect. I think the best use for a wiki is in sharing independent research with others about specific topics in order to form a rich base to draw from. This highlights a collaborative approach to learning, in which students share with each other their findings, give recommendations, and evaluate resources. I think this is the best possible use, as other functions outlined in the article are better served by class websites, discussion boards, and personal communication. I think also that students need to be a little older to be responsible enough to keep the security of the wiki in their thoughts. I have younger children at home and I don’t know how many times I’ve found their passwords for various online games etc. thrown haphazardly on the ground or left on kitchen countertops. I certainly would not give them a password for something that could truly get messed up by someone with less than savory intentions.