Win With Wikis - Renarda Faulk

W.W.W.-WIN WITH WIKIS!

Website publishing and collaboration has never been so user-friendly.  A wiki is a tool that allows you to build a website that can be accessed and edited by anyone.  Well you might be saying, well why not use a regular Web page to store information?  The key difference between a web page and a wiki is that a wiki allows you to edit freely.  I think that this is an excellent tool for Media Specialists.  Often in our media center, we would have things that were requested frequently.  Teachers might ask, how do I find books on photosynthesis or what is the current password for Galileo? Depending on what time of the day, the media center would be extremely business.  Most teachers that request things want them now and not a second later : ) A wiki is a great tool to place all of this information in one place.   We would eventually like to build a wiki to house frequently accessed information, tools, resources, and references for teachers and students.  Not only will it allow us as Media Specialists to distribute the information needed, but it will benefit teachers, students, and other stakeholders.  I would probably print some business card flyers with the wiki page on it and make it available.

Apalachee High School has an excellent wiki setup for the Media Center.  On the wiki are several links to frequently accessed information.  The links have images with the website’s logo which make it easy for teachers and students to identify what they are looking for.  The wiki also has a menu bar to the left that is categorized by the needs of students and teachers.  It has a section for learning, reading, research, technology, and sharing.  Learning tools such as thinking maps and professional development documents are also on the wiki.  It is very organized and I can tell that they have listened to feedback from students and teachers.  Most of the things that they have on the wiki are the exact same things that our library patrons would frequently ask questions about.

To see Apalachee High School’s Media Center site, visit: http://ahsmedia.barrow.wikispaces.net/After+School

In addition to collaboration with teachers and students, Cobb County Schools has found a very great way to use a wiki.  They have a wiki for all Media Specialist in the county.  On this page, Media Specialist can share their best practices as well as look for things that they may need.  This is an excellent idea considering how busy the year can get for Media Specialists.  In the school district, Media Specialist may run into some of the same obstacles.  The wiki can provide a means to help one another.  The Cobb County Schools Media Specialist Wiki features a “how to” section, access to the Destiny database, items for instruction, and more.

To see the Cobb County Schools Media Specialist site, visit:  https://cobbk12-org.campuspack.net/Groups/CI_Library_Media_Education_-_Spinks/Cobb_Library_Media_Wiki

As you can see, wikis can be used in many different ways.  Vanderbilt University identified several ways that wikis can be used.  They discussed using wikis for mini research projects, collaborative annotated bibliographies, compiling a manual or glossary, maintaining a collection of links, building an online repository of documents, and creating e-portfolios of student work.  Of course there are other uses, but this definitely gives us a great start.  Vanderbilt University made a great point by stating that wikis shift students from being “consumers of knowledge” to being “creators of knowledge.”  I agree with this statement.  Wikis definitely allow students to utilize hands-on, project based-learning.  It also give students a break from the traditional way of doing work:  pen and pencil.  Vanderbilt also believes that the use of a wiki can contribute to a higher order of learning.  This is true when students are creating and evaluating.

To read more, visit:  http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/wikis/

The only potential problems that I can see are the learning curve for the students and teachers.  It’s a little more of a challenge to learn to build a wiki and apply the lesson.  Due to several factors, students and teachers might get frustrated in creating the wiki.  Time is also a big issue.  Most students and teachers today are very busy.  They want things fast and easy.  However, I feel that the wiki is user friendly and once they learn it, they will be fine.  My other concern is the editing.  However, the best way to monitor this is the have Wikis can definitely provide a wealth of information that can be accessed from anywhere that has web access.

References

Educause learning initiative: wikis. (2005, July). Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf

Seven Things You Should Know About Wikis. (2005, July). Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf

Wikis- Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. (2013). Retrieved from http://cft.vanderbilt.edu/teaching-guides/wikis/