Wikis and Best Practice

Nicole Arrold

Wikis and Best Practice

Logos for wiki (n.d.) Retrieved from http://blog.logos.com/2011/03/have_you_used_the_logos_4_online_manual_its_free/

WIKIS?

A series of editable pages to facilitate collaboration

Asynchronous communication

User friendly

Many are free to access

A powerful tool in education

Wikid wiki. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://saralynnhirsimaki.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/wikid-wikis.html

How are wikis used in education?

To promote group collaboration

As a repository for content - able to be built upon

To empower learners through a democratic philosophy

To assist users with the challenge of collaborating, problem solving and critical thinking

(Schroeder, 2009)

Research / presentation purpose

To gain a better understanding of how to design a wiki by applying best practice principles

Literature Review

Wiki analysis

Findings and implications for educators

Research projects. (n.d.) Retrieved fromhttp://www.tc.umn.edu/~pete5752/newASTRL/ASTRL%20Research.html

A review of literature

I searched the EdITLib database for literature about best practices with wiki use

Selected three articles that explicitly outlined wiki best practice

Six common themes

An identified gap in the literature opportunity for growth

Selection of papers outlining wiki best practice

Six identified best practices

(Schroeder, 2009; Rubel, Wallace & Adams, 2012; Jones Kolloff & Kolloff, 2010)

Wiki Best Practices

Practice (sandbox)

Meaningful/authentic activities

Opportunities for collaboration

Clear wiki conventions

Technical assistance

Clear course expectations

Wiki selection

I visited these sites to find five appropriate wikis to analyze

Many wikis blocked for public viewing due to privacy settings

Criteria for wiki selection

Used for collaboration purposes

Implemented within in a classroom

(Student Made Math Movies, n.d.)

Summary of wikis

Key for best practices

1 Practice (sandbox)

2 Clear wiki conventions

3 Technical assistance

4 Clear course expectations

5 Meaningful/authentic activities

6 Opportunities for collaboration

Findings

Trends

Excellent opportunities to collaborate (some globally)

Wiki used as a home base collaboration occurring elsewhere

Educators are utilizing supporting tools like Dropbox, Google Docs and Vimeo to assist in collaboration process

Authentic tasks well implemented - example

Magnifying glass. (n.d.). http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/clip/look---.html

Depending on time, may not watch all of the video

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Findings

Issues

Only 40% of wikis provided users with a chance to practice

Only 60% offered on site technical assistance for users

A gap in literature that identifies wiki best practices

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The inspiring Flat Classroom Project

http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/

Click on picture to view

Click on picture for hyperlinked video

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Implications for educators

Opportunity for growth and understanding of wiki potential as more literature becomes available

Exemplary examples of how wikis can empower, excite and engage learners

Imperative that educators implementing wikis have a sound understanding of wiki best practices.

Puzzle builders (n.d.) Retrieved from driscoll-class.wikispaces.com

Thank you

I appreciate your time and am grateful that you have listened to my presentation

You have helped me edge closer to my Masters.

Reference list

Coach Einfeldt's Junior English Wiki. [n.d]. Retrieved August 31, 2013, from https://rshs422.wikispaces.com/

Fireworks. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://blog.positscience.com/2013/07/01/why-we-love-fireworks-they-put-the-brain-at-the-edge-of-fear-and-fun/

Flat Classroom Project. [n.d]. Retrieved September 1, 2013, from http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/

Global Read Aloud. [n.d]. Retrieved September 1, 2013, from http://globalreadaloud.wikispaces.com/

Global-Village. [n.d]. Retrieved September 1, 2013, from https://educators.pbworks.com/w/page/18697675/FrontPage

Reference list

Jones, P., Kolloff, M. & Kolloff, F. (2010). Best Practices to Support and Assess Learning Using Wikis. Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 575-578). Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/

Logos for wiki (n.d.) Retrieved from http://blog.logos.com/2011/03/have_you_used_the_logos_4_online_manual_its_free/

Magnifying glass. (n.d.). http://school.discoveryeducation.com/clipart/clip/look---.html

Puzzle builders (n.d.) Retrieved from driscoll-class.wikispaces.com

Research projects. (n.d.) Retrieved fromhttp://www.tc.umn.edu/~pete5752/newASTRL/ASTRL%20Research.html

Reference list

Rubel, C., Wallace, M. & Adams, A. (2012). Promoting a Culture of Best Practices Using Wikis and Blogs in Virtual Education. In Proceedings of Global TIME conference (pp. 44-49). Retrieved September 11, 2013 from http://www.eric.ed.gov/

Schroeder, B. (2009). Within the Wiki: Best Practices for Educators. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, 17(3), 181-197. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/

Student Made Math Movies. [n.d]. Retrieved August 31, 2013, from http://studentmathmovies.wikispaces.com/

Wikid wiki. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://saralynnhirsimaki.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/wikid-wikis.html