Wiki Walk Through

What is a Wiki?

The Wikipedia Symbol

A Wiki is a public online resource that can be edited by any user visiting the page.  Wikis are a great tool for collaborative learning due to the fact that everyone can be an active participant in editing and creating the Wiki.  Wikis are never truly "finished" because they are always being revised and updated with the changing times and available information.  A   The most well known Wiki is Wikipedia, which is an online encyclopedia that has no author, only many contributors. To see a short tutorial video about Wikis, please click here.

Many people use and benefit from Wikis.  Currently, Wikis are largely being used in colleges and universities, however, there are many other uses.  Wikis can be used by anyone wishing to collaborate  with a group on a project or gathering of information.  Wikis can be used to organize things like family information, vacation planning, specialty information, and even collaborative cookbooks.

Using Wiki in the classroom.
One way in which a Wiki could be useful in the classroom is by allowing the students to make a collaborative study guide for a test or final project.  Giving the students the autonomy to be proactive in their own education can work wonders in intrinsic motivation to learn.  Also, by allowing the students to contribute their own bits into the study guide promotes a sense of community and mutual support among the students.  Furthermore, the students will be learning from one another and likely be well prepared for the exam!

A Word Collage Representing Collaboration

Another way teachers can use Wiki in the classroom is by partnering with other classes around the world to teach about the daily lives of students around the globe.  There is no better way to learn about a different culture than from a native.  Providing a collaborative space for students from around the globe to add information about their culture will be a unique learning experience for all who are involved.

One final way to use Wiki in the classroom would be to do a collaborative literary book review of a novel the class is reading.  Various sections can be set up according the literary devices the class is focusing on and during the process of reading the novel, the class can add details and observations in the correct place.  This will promote an environment of acceptance and insight among the students as well as providing an opportunity for them to learn from one another.