Uses of wikis: More and less than expected

October 6, 2010 by peter.taylor | 0 comments

Before reviewing a variety of ways one might use wikis—only the last of which is the much-vaunted “collaborative knowledge generation”—let us consider the general kinds of reasons for using a technological tool. (This post comes from a wikipage with links that I created in order to give a talk on the Uses of Wikis at an educational technology conference in May 2010. The post, like the wikipage, requires clicking on the links and viewing the examples in relation to key terms in the bullet points below the links.)

Why use a technological tool (such as a wiki)?

pedagogical guidelines (from 2001)

1. To extend thinking of students
- a. Use computers first and foremost to teach or learn things that are difficult to teach or learn with pedagogical approaches that are not based on computers.
- b. Make sure that learning/knowledge-construction is happening, especially when asking students to use the internet.
- c. Model computer use on best practices to ensure learning without computers.
2. To facilitate group interaction, e.g., by freeing teacher from the bookkeeping part of class activities
3. To enhance communication of knowledge
4. To organize a personal workstation or “virtual office”

guidelines for service & institutional development (from 2005)

planning
community-building
probing & reflection towards coherent principles
transparency and inclusiveness of consultation
documenting process, product, and evaluations for institutional learning
organization, including efficient use of computer technology, to support all of the above

Also

modeling/experimenting with tools that colleagues & students can also adopt/adapt
developing & sharing material (open source)
interacting beyond normal boundaries