Thing #9

Wikis are a bit daunting for me. I've been overwhelmed looking at the examples given, although I certainly see amazing potential!

To be honest, I think I've visited Wikipedia only once in the past, so I started by looking at that a little more in depth. It was easy to use, both in locating a specific topic and in browsing their lists. I didn't feel like I was getting lost within the site, which I did feel in a few other examples. I would, though, be hesitant to use this as a reliable source for research as anyone can add to it, so it would be important to back up any info I used from Wikipedia with a collaborating source.

I also glanced at RocWiki, a tourist's guide to Rochester, NY. Next time I travel to another city, I'll be certain to check for a Wiki for the area! What a great way to plan a trip with recommendations and comments from locals and prior visitors. I'd rather get a valid suggestion of where to eat than randomly pick a name of a restaurant out of a brochure!

The highlight of my search through Wiki-world was visiting Vicki Davis' blog and following it to her students' wiki. Ingenious. This is what true learning looks like...students becoming the teachers. It seemed to be easy to use and created an opportunity for students to work together (although I have a question...would the teacher be able to see who had accessed or contributed to the definitions to ensure all had a role in the project?).

Personally, I would have to take a class, read more, or have a coach in how to run an effective wiki. If it isn't well organized, it could be a nightmare for both students and the teacher.

In what ways could wikis be used in the classroom? I think it'd be a good way for absent students to check the notes of their classmates, a great way to do a collaborative research projects or book reviews, and possibly be used as a place for students to offer feedback on each other's writing (although a blog may be better for that since no one could actually change the document that way).