Thoughts on Wikis

I really enjoyed learning about Wikis and think there is a lot of potential for using them in schools. I think the collaborative aspects of wikis is what makes them such a great tool. Wikis really widen the possibilities for whole class or group projects where each member can contribute to a final product. While I really liked blogs as a way to publish student work, I think wikis offer even more possibilities in the classroom. Creating a wiki for a specific topic and then having students edit it and add their own information is a great way to share knowledge. I really like that any member can edit or add to the wiki, versus a blog where only one or a few people post and then everyone else comments. 

I think collaborative work is a great way for students to learn. But not all students find it enjoyable or easy to work together. I remember as a child being dropped off at some classmates house that I didn't really know and having a few hours to get a project done before I was picked up again. I think wikis could really change the way students work together. Not only do they create more flexibility in the time and place that work needs to be completed, but I think the product that is created is much more meaningful and enduring. At the end of a school year students aren't left with a desk or basement full of reports and trifold presentations and dioramas. Instead there is a lasting product that does not need to be stored and can be shared with the world. I feel that making work meaningful for students is one of the best ways to build interest and further learning, and wikis could really be that hook for some students.

I also think that wikis could be a great collaborative tool for adults as well. I feel like we talk a lot about ways to share new information (without having to have extra staff meetings). For example as a member of my school IST, we are always looking for information about research based interventions for our RTI process. I think that using a wiki that we could all edit and add too would be a great way to build our shared knowledge base and eliminate extra meetings!