Wiki World

As I mentioned, I have created a couple of blogs and wikis already, with limited success. To create a wiki for this class (to be used in my work), I used a wiki I had previously created for a book club and completely revamped it for use as a book club that students may actually join!! I even changed the template of the pages. Only the title "WHS Book Club" is the same. Check it out! I used to think that the difference between a blog and a wiki is that a blog is a journal and a wiki is a collaboration tool. According to Richardson, however, a blog "Links with analysis and synthesis that articulate a deeper understanding or relationship to the content being linked and written with potential audience response in mind." (Richardson, p. 31) Wikis, are, indeed, collaboration tools.

I love the idea of working on projects, both in the classroom with students and amongst colleagues professionally, without having to be in the same place at the same time. No matter when a meeting is planned, there's always someone who can't make it! Students have their "school-sponsored activities" that take them out of classes on a regular basis. A wiki makes planning and creating documents and working on projects accessible to everyone, all the time. My hope is that it begins to get utilized more at our school.

I'm delighted that Wikipedia is finally getting a little respect as an incredible repository of knowledge. I use it just as I would use any resource - with a curious mind and a critical eye. At a workshop I attended the other day, one of the presenters explained that many of the Wikipedia pages are edited and updated by people who feel very passionately about the topic, and that most inaccuracies are caught and deleted within a matter of minutes. I like the mental image this creates in my head! I appreciate those who are well-versed in any subject. I love to learn new things! Next we are tackling RSS feeds - also addressed at the workshop I attended, but I have yet to attempt to subscribe to any. I'll let you know how it goes!

Cited

Richardson, Will (2009). Blogs, wikis, podcast and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand oaks, CA: Corwin Press.