Wikis

Using Wikis for Student Collaboration

Wikis are a great way for educators to integrate more opportunities for student writing and to practice critical thinking skills at the same time.  Educators can dedicate space on a website to post thought provoking questions, statements, articles, charts/diagrams, photos, and problems to solve or any applicable discussion topic  and elicit written responses and opinions from each of the students.  What is interesting about this type of format is that students can read what others have wrote, form their own opinions based on their own perspective, and post it on the website.  This works well as homework assignments and warm-up assignments.    

Educators can create simple Wikis on a website in a matter of minutes.  Wikis can easily conform to a blog format.  The educator can post daily Wikis as a daily blog, and students can access the Wiki for the day from the website and post their responses into it.

Students can also use Wikis on student or class websites to plan and collaborate on the creation of group projects and activities.  In this way, students can post their plans and information they are working on, the other students in the group can edit it and add more information both in school and on their own time.   This mode of collaboration works well and can be very efficient when students are given clear expectations and guidelines.   Educators can also monitor the progress of group projects remotely, and leave feedback for their students.

Wikis and blogs are instrumental in the learning progress. We have only just started understanding their use and value to education.  I predict that more innovative and creative applications for blogs and Wikis will become available in the near future.