Wikis
are webpages that can be edited or modified by approved users. Wikipedia is probably the most well known wiki around. People have the opportunity to contribute facts about any topic on the site.
Because there are free programs that allow
users to create wikis, they are ideal for use in classrooms. Wikis can be a great asset to a Media Center
program. They are an effective way to
showcase the media center’s programs or for use with students during lessons in
the media center. Wikis also allow
professionals to collaborate with each other in an easy to access space.
One
downside to wikis is that it becomes a biased representation of the topic being
explored. Users will add what they seem
is favorable to their position the site, while ignoring differing
opinions.
Some
wikis do serve as a storage place of specific information. In order to promote collaboration, the wiki
administrator should have a clear audience in mind and clear expectations about how the
wiki will be used. The site should
welcome and promote interaction among its users.
Media specialists in particular could invite students to upload book reviews to the media center wiki. Or post other original student work.
I think the use of wikis in the media center is an excellent way to share knowledge within the school and even the community. Wikis are easy to access and can be customized (secure access) for specific groups or individuals. Some concerns with using wikis: making sure information is correct, information is updated in a timely manner, information is managed (can become disorganized) and publicly accessible wikis are sometimes vulnerable to vandalism. Reading through the Horizon report, BYOD (Bring your Own Device) is becoming popular in schools, which would allow students to create, collaborate, and access wikis throughout the entire school.
ReplyDeleteWikis are a good way to share knowledge -- however it is hard to get everyone in your school to jump on board the "Wikis Wagon". I think there are a variety of reasons that teachers and other staff within the school are a little hesitant.
ReplyDeleteFor one, I think that a lot of teachers are unaware of how to start or access Wikis. Some wikis are not "pretty" or "user-friendly" and teachers are so overwhelmed with so much in the classroom that spending an hour or more figuring out a Wiki and how it works does not seem like a good way to spend their planning time or after-school hours.
In order for teacher buy-in to a Wiki space, the Media Specialist should do a good job of communicating the purpose for and great communication/collaboration skills that Wikis can provide in the classroom. It would even be beneficial for the Media Specialist to set up accounts for a few teachers who would be willing to try out the Wiki with a helping hand close by. These teachers would then provide good press for the Wikis --which they desperately need.
Once a few teachers see the purpose that Wikis can provide and how truly easy they can be -- the desire for Wikis will spread like wildfire in your school.
A few years ago I created a Wiki on Wikispaces to teach a Greek Mythology unit. I didn't really understand the purpose of the Wiki when I created it. I made it private and added a class of students. I used it more of a place to store information rather than a place for collaboration. I had my students use it as a place to go to for their assignments, instead of using higher order thinking skills to contribute. It was completely teacher centered. Now I have a better understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of using a wiki, especially in project based learning.
ReplyDeleteWhen using wikis with students, it is necessary to provide a ‘safe’ and monitored environment for students to collaborate. This does take a large amount of time to create and monitor for teachers, and I think that is why some have a difficult time using wikis. I definitely see the benefits, but I used my little experiment with one class of 26 students. The idea of using it with all 130 students on my rosters, who are adding and deleting information, is overwhelming. I think teachers and Media Specialists could share this with students as an option for working on small group projects. The adult monitors should have access to view the collaboration, but the ultimate responsibility falls to the students. I think it can be most effective for the middle school age group if there is a limited number of participants in each wiki.
Personally, I love wikis. However, I can also see the ways in which this mode of information sharing can be frustrating for teachers and students alike. Wikipedia is the perfect example of the frustrations inherent in wikis, as students constantly look for information on the site, sometimes quoting it in a paper, without taking into consideration the fact that the information provided may not be entirely factual. It becomes frustrating for teachers (and media specialists) because you don't want to limit your students, but you also don't want them to view this website as a credible source for information.
ReplyDeleteBut for every Wikipedia-like website out there, there are at least two or more that are great for use in the classroom and outside it.The best in my opinion are those that students and teachers work to create themselves. It not only allows students to get involved with the information they are learning, but it also gives them the opportunity to interact with the subject matter on a completely different level as they create their own wikis.
It’s true, many media specialist do operate and maintain the schools website. For me personally, while training was given to technically operate schoolwires, training was not provided on content. That’s why I also agree with your statement of one must know and understand what their patrons need and how to service them. Deciding what should be on the site is no easy task, it takes a great bit of communication, research and protocols put in place. I also agree with the essentials – resources being an area I like to focus on a lot. Great post ☺
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of using Wikis for book reviews. I think this is great for students to reflect on books they have read. And while some kids may have never considered reading a particular book see a peer review can inspire/motivate them to read either something outside of their normal reading topic or something that completely fits their book preference. I think that students who have read the same book should be able to add to the original post. This could also spark positive conversation and even ignite positive debates depending on students points of view.
ReplyDeleteNikole,
ReplyDeleteWiki is a great tool to showcase one’s media program. The media specialist can keep current information about what is happening in the program so the audience can be informed. It is a collaboration tool for all types of stakeholders whether it be education or industry. There are drawbacks when it comes to valid information because sometimes users are biased about certain information. The media specialist has to make sure that certain groups have the ability to edit information so that is can remain a reliable source. I like the idea of book reviews because this promotes books so others can be encouraged to check out and read.