Ok this post is slightly after a week (sorry Monty), but today I wanted to reflect on the esteemed 'wiki'. Oh yes... I've moved on from the wonders of blogging and have reached bigger and better things.
So what's the difference between a blog and a wiki?
Well the main difference is that a blog is something that is individual. Although a blog is not private, (as I discussed in post the first it can be read by anyone), it can only be edited by one person. A wiki is therefore something that many people can edit, add to and control if they have access to the site.
So What?
Yes I've asked the question so close to our hearts concerning the dreaded 'M' word! Why are they useful and who could use them?
They are an ideal tool to use in a classroom for collaborative learning. It is a tool ideal for projects that different children can add to, whether that be pictures, text, sounds or videos. Not only is it useful for children but also perhaps for teachers, (provided they are aware of how to use them). Collaborative planning is an activity that most teachers are involved in. So rather than having to organise meetings to plan collaboratively why not just add bits to plans, comment or change things from your own home? Indeed I am using a wiki to undertake the dreaded bean investigation with my group so we o not have to try and coordinate lots of meetings.
I think perhaps the main problem with this idea is the fact that it removes direct communication face to face directly out of the picture. So perhaps whilst this idea is good in principle, it may prove more time consuming as discussions cannot be had quickly and, let's face it, it would seem a tad anti social and take away teacher to teacher communication that is so vital in surviving the profession.
Despite this it would seem that a wiki can indeed be useful. Perhaps one of the most famous wikis around at the moment is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a fantastic source of information although the fact that anyone can edit it means that each entry looked up has to be scrutinised carefully by the reader as not every source is reliable! Listeners of Radio One will know that the Scott Mills page on Wikipedia is a complete fabrication!
So what's the difference between a blog and a wiki?
Well the main difference is that a blog is something that is individual. Although a blog is not private, (as I discussed in post the first it can be read by anyone), it can only be edited by one person. A wiki is therefore something that many people can edit, add to and control if they have access to the site.
So What?
Yes I've asked the question so close to our hearts concerning the dreaded 'M' word! Why are they useful and who could use them?
They are an ideal tool to use in a classroom for collaborative learning. It is a tool ideal for projects that different children can add to, whether that be pictures, text, sounds or videos. Not only is it useful for children but also perhaps for teachers, (provided they are aware of how to use them). Collaborative planning is an activity that most teachers are involved in. So rather than having to organise meetings to plan collaboratively why not just add bits to plans, comment or change things from your own home? Indeed I am using a wiki to undertake the dreaded bean investigation with my group so we o not have to try and coordinate lots of meetings.
I think perhaps the main problem with this idea is the fact that it removes direct communication face to face directly out of the picture. So perhaps whilst this idea is good in principle, it may prove more time consuming as discussions cannot be had quickly and, let's face it, it would seem a tad anti social and take away teacher to teacher communication that is so vital in surviving the profession.
Despite this it would seem that a wiki can indeed be useful. Perhaps one of the most famous wikis around at the moment is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a fantastic source of information although the fact that anyone can edit it means that each entry looked up has to be scrutinised carefully by the reader as not every source is reliable! Listeners of Radio One will know that the Scott Mills page on Wikipedia is a complete fabrication!
2 comments:
Some useful comments.
Wikis have a number of uses, but the main characteristic as you point out, is their flexibility with respect to collaboration.
Hi,
Do you have any recommended sites to start a wiki?
I'm a PGCE student at the university of Northampton and I found your blog really useful. We've created a blog to share ideas and resources for teachers http://pgceprimary.blogspot.com/ I hope you'll enjoy it.
Keep in touch
Marie
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