David,
Love the Wiki example! Yes, compling information and knowledge building can be wonderful results of using these technologies.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Wikis allow for the common development of a knowledge repository. We did this for renewable energy information. Students and others could add their experience and insight.
Blogs (Web logs) allow students to expand on a topic for which they are passionate. I blog on small business issues using my free Wordpress account. Blogs may be incorporated in a Content Management System for online education.
Great point. I was a little lost on how these (wiki) could be used but you summarized the concept well!
I have always felt that one true test of understanding is to be able to teach it.
Mary,
Ys, I encourage you to try these tools with your students as they can really enhance the engagement and focus of students.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I am unfamiliar with wikis and blogs; however I know an instructor who utilizes them and claims they are most effective. What this instructor does is a whole host of tools from wikis to blogs to live chats to written support materials, etc. so that she captures everyone of her students' needs.
I have a technique in my literature courses where groups work together to "present" one of the assigned stories or poems to the class.
But the groups must also produce a wiki for the class in which they annotate difficult passages, explain archane terms, help "read between the lines". Much 19th century literature hinted at sexuality, but alert readers see the coding. I give hints, but they must ferret out the answers and then properly present and cite it.
Students enjoy being the "experts" for the day, and they actually do enjoy finding out just what X was hinting when he wrote Y. Illustrations, video clips, sound clips or any other "extras" are heartily encourage.
In another course, we use reader response blogs which all of us write. These informal responses, while created for an audience, give a space where their reactions are just as valid as mine. We can then discuss one another's blogs online, asking questions, commenting, praising.
Blackboard has great tools for encouraging this type of learning.
Cynthia,
I encourage you to keep experimenting with the technology and various ways these tools can enrich the learning experience.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Thank you for the links Dr. Ruth,
I recently completed an online course where I learned to create a wiki and a blog. I am what we call technologically challenged, but I was able to do it. I have been wanting to create one for students so they are able to interact with each other in a safe environment. I know a lot of them communicate back and forth on facebook, but these articles will help establish safe boundaries.
Thomas,
These also maximize the individual voice of the students in the learning process which helps both instructor and student become more informed of learning needs and perferences.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
They transform the student from be a receiver of knowledge to helping to generate it by authoring their own essays on topics related to the class, Essays that other students are able to discuss and analyze.
Jolly,
Have you used these tools dorectlywith students? How have they supported the collaboration of students and what kind of projects work best?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Discussion boards, wikis, and blogs are viewed as enabling technologies and can be used to support other instructional media in designing a blended learning solution. Often referred to as e-learning 2.0 or Web 2.0, these media components are primarily used as collaborative tools and generally not considered stand-alone instructional media delivery options. However, when integrated into a course or learning module supporting a structured learning environment, these social media tools can support active learning and knowledge construction through peer-to-peer interaction. Additionally, these tools can be used in an unstructured environment in supporting informal learning.
They can if they are used correctly. Students are already used to social media, in which they post their ideas and their thoughts for a general audience. We can take that skill and direct it toward developing more focused and researched knowledge through an academic blog or wiki. If students use these resources to interact and provide feedback on each others postings, they can certainly create another forum for their learning.
I will admit, however, that I am skeptical of wikis and blogs. I do not see much difference in these resources and the discussion forum. If the discussion forum is used appropriately, then there should be no need for an outside blog or wiki in addition to the discussion forum. I sometimes think that educators believe that they must use all forms of new technology in a classroom without considering that many of those forms are redundant. Use a blog, yes, but don't also use a wiki AND a discussion board AND a white board AND a chat room. There is such a thing as resource overkill.
Camille,
Yes, these tools really help students track their own thought development - that then helps the instructor learn more about each student's learning progress.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Blogs and wikis are great ways for students to assess their understandings of a topic and share in an environment that may be less intimidating than face to face interaction. Posting on blogs and wikis encourages students to conduct research to support their point and analyze what their perspectives are.
James, you presented a good point about the aspect of wiikis and blogs for increasing critical thinking. They can also enhance instruction in the area of increasing writing skills. Of course, this aspect would require monitoring by the instructor and an orientation and review session for students at the beginning of the session. This would encourage students to produce writing that reflects proper grammar and mechanics. There can be a tendency for students who are constantly texting not to use capitalization properly. I cringe when I see the lower case "i" used when the capital "I" should be used. The addition of wikis and blogs to the learning environment can enhance critical thinking and writing skills.
Joel,
Excellent! I hope you find them helpful...
Dr. Ruth Reynard
Thanks for sharing the links with the class. I used to get a hard copy of Campus Technology and enjoyed their articles very much. I will be sure to take a look at these links.
Sheri,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the online technology. Blogs provide an ongoing space for self reflection and commentary. I found blogs very helpful in developing the personal voice of the students in the class. Wikis are very helpful in developing collaborative skills.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
