Blog 2: Wikis
Melissa Campbell
Wikis are a flexible
tool that allows users the opportunity to collaborate over the internet easily
and efficiently. Wikis are websites where content can be created, manipulated,
and edited from multiple users at any given time. There are many factors that
need to be considered when bringing wikis into the media center. I feel that
high school students would be able to manipulate and benefit from them. In an
elementary school I feel they would be a little more difficult to implement,
because more instruction and support is needed on a larger scale.
Courtney (2007) discusses a few items that need to be taken into
consideration before a media center wiki is established. Her first item is what
came to my mind right away when presented with the question should we use wikis
in the media center? Is a wiki really needed, or are we establishing one
because everyone else is? If there is a specific purpose for a wiki that has
been expressed by the media center then I think it is a good idea. If there is
not a clear purpose or goal then I think a wiki is not necessary. Even if a
school does not have their own personal media center wiki students and staff
can still access and use popular wikis to benefit instruction.
Wikis are used most effectively
when a clear goal and purpose have been established. When you have multiple
people accessing a wiki it is important to have a set of guidelines in place
for the success of the wiki. In the article 7
Things You Should Know About…Wikis (2005) it shares that wikis may be the
easiest web based form of collaboration. It is shown that collaboration is a key
component to student success. Wikis allow immediate access to materials and you
can clearly see the progression from start to finish. As long as the guidelines
for running the wiki are clear then it will be more successful for the media
center.
The main drawback I see to a media center wiki is one of its
most positive qualities, the ability for anyone to edit the material on the
wiki. While this quality is why many people use and love the wiki when trying
to establish a wiki for a school media center there are certain risks involved.
It would be important to monitor the wiki frequently to maintain any inappropriate
or incorrect material. This can be a very time consuming and nerve racking
task. In a media center it would make sense to establish a selected group that
would have controlled access to the wiki. Therefore not just anyone could access
and change the material.
When looking through the uses of wikis I find they are most
useful for internal communication. Whether it be a media team, classroom
teachers, or a small group project collaboration a wiki is a perfect site to use
when sharing ideas and communicating internally. I thought Courtney’s (2007)
thoughts about library wikis being set up as a platform for resource services
is another great purpose. If a wiki is
not maintained properly then it can be a detriment to a library site.
I can see how wikis can turn into a dumping ground for work.
Rather a very large online filling cabinet. When a wiki is established for collaboration
someone needs to institute how the material is going to be organized to meet
the needs of the users. It is just like creating the layout for a website. You
want it to be easy to follow and use. Wikis can be beneficial when a clear purpose
and goal is established, along with an organized plan for caring out the shared
material.
Courtney,
N. (Ed.). (2007). Library 2.0 and beyond: Innovative technologies and
tomorrow’s
user. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Educause Learning Initiative. (2005,
July). 7 things you should know about wikis. Retrieved
February 17, 2013, from
http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf
You made some good points about wikis, particularly the idea that, contrary as it sounds, the drawback of wiki usage in the media center is one of its positive qualities - the ability for anyone to edit. There definitely needs to be education for the users of the wiki, and guidelines need to be established in order for it to be used effectively. Having consistent monitoring of the wiki is also important, so there needs to be a moderator who is checking the site frequently. Most of the information I read about wikis had to do with using it for student projects, but your idea that it can be very effective for internal communication is a good one. I can see how easily it can be used with team planning sessions, curriculum writing, or collaboration between media specialists and teachers, especially when time is often a deterrent to this. With adults, one would hope that you wouldn’t have to worry about the problems you might face with students. I know my experience with using wikis at UWG in my reference class was a positive one – much more so than the first time we tried to use wikis with our fifth graders! Still – as the students experiment with it, they became more responsible and efficient, putting the wikis to better use.
ReplyDeleteMelissa:
ReplyDeleteThe one sentence of your blog that really stands out to me is the question: Is a wiki really needed, or are we establishing one because everyone else is? I do believe that wiki have a time and place that best utilizes their capabilities, but on the other hand, I don’t believe that they are necessary in all situations. Making and using a wiki to collectively share ideas and to have an area for communication between members is the ultimate goal. Making a wiki only because it sounds good to indicate that you have one is useless. I see an area for students and adults in the workplace to utilize the wiki format, but it doesn’t come without the possibility of misuse. As you mention, constant maintenance is necessary or it can become an unattended dumping ground.
After reading your article, I came away with a better understanding of what wikis are and I agree that wikis can be difficult to implement with younger students. I was trying to imagine how I would teach using and creating wikis with first graders. Most of them are still learning how to write complete sentences. This brings to me question whether or not, should wikis be integrated with older students or until students have grasped and mastered writing. When I did a quick search for wikis with younger kids, the only articles and wikis that came up were ones that were created by teachers for parents. But I didn’t see one designed especially for young kids, much less ones that had them collaborating on the wiki sites. Now does that mean that none of this type exists…no. But after trying two separate searches and looking at various wikis, I didn’t find any.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned a couple of important things in this blog regarding wikis. First, you mentioned that wikis, like any other tool you are planning on using, should only be included if there is a clear purpose or goal. If you do not have clear goal, how do know the steps to achieve that goal, or whether or not at the end of the year that you have achieved that goal. Also, for buy-ins from administration, it is always important to set SMART goals. Another great point you made was setting guidelines for wiki usage. You mentioned that as long as the guidelines for running a wiki are transparent, then the more smoothly and effective it will be. Finally, you mentioned that not everyone should have rights to edit the wiki. Could you imagine any stakeholder, like an irate parent, including inappropriate content on the wiki?
I think the most powerful thing about this blog is that while you have reviewed all the same information as everyone else you drew conclusions that I didn't see on other team sites.
ReplyDeleteHonestly you have created my doubt in using wikis than I had prior to reading it. Your points are clear and make sense. I hadn't considered the amount of time it would require to supervise and maintain a MC wiki, which is clearly a good amount.
Also, I appreciated you inquiring if we really needed wikis or if we were just climbing on the latest flavor of the month.
Overall, I have no answers to your insightful questions, just more questions. Thanks for making me reconsider.
Ingrid
Melissa -
ReplyDeleteI do feel as if wikis would remain more beneficial to secondary students, more so than elementary students. Given that older learners tend to be more capable of independent thinking and studies, while having a better grasp of Wiki functions.
In the Courtney textbook, it does present those questions, yet it favors initiative to incorporate wikis into the school library's daily functions.
"Wikis are used most effectively when a clear goal and purpose have been established. When you have multiple people accessing a wiki it is important to have a set of guidelines in place for the success of the wiki."
Yes, for the most part, the purpose of a Wiki is for a group of people to converge information and ideas, more efficiently and congruently. It allows for everyone to have input into particular topic, while such a group.
I agree, the biggest problem in media centers would be to monitor the student wikis for inappropriate and profane comments, images, or topics, which are irrelevant to the assignment.
At my school, many if not most teachers , maintain some type of social networking account for their students (i.e., Edmodo, Twitter, blogs, etc.). It is encouraged by our administration, as well. I think many teachers are afraid of using these sites because of all the poor decisions of a few educators; however, those few shouldn't sip the rest of us from using these sites as educational tools.
ReplyDeleteMy main drawback to utilizing social networking is time and remembering to update. I had to place a disclaimer on my syllabus stating that my forgetfulness to update or post a deadline was not an excuse to turn an assignment in late. Also, you wouldn't believe how many parents have asked if I maintain a blog or if I have a website. It is a definite sign of the times we live in, and as educators, we must adjust.