Teaching Writing with Web 2.0 Tools
Wikis
http://facweb.bhc.edu/TLC/tech/stepbystep/NewTechSeries/wikis.ppt
What is a wiki?
"wiki" comes from a Hawaiian term for quick, in
reference to the rapid rate at which wiki Web sites
change; wikiwiki=really quick!
A collaborative, organized, online knowledge-base
within which many people can add, delete, and edit
content (i.e, document editing from a browser; no
programming knowledge needed)
Software used to create such an environment (runs
on server)
Public wikis (wikipedia) vs. community/private wikis
(within a college class, for example)
How is it being used in HE?
Comment on a document’s contents (e.g., line of
poetry; book review, art critique; students select a
phrase/word/sentence and post alternative comments
or questions about it)
– Often not allow deleting or posting anonymously, common
on public wikis
– Helps with short, compact, screen-friendly writing
Correct/fix/edit a document and provide justification
for changes in the discussion area.
Construct a researched site of resources, such as a
set of publications, protocols and submission tools for
sending off essays for potential publication
How is it being used in HE?
Annotate a succinct essay or study guide with
attached links, reference materials, critiques, cross-
referenced topics.
Fix an essay full of errors with suggested fixes,
resource documentation to support error corrections,
etc.
Build on a blog by extracting a key post from the
blog, put it into a wiki format, and invite specific
comments/edits/contributions.
What else?
Challenges
How to structure assignment (Indiv. Works and others
comment? Instructor-chosen work, and all comment on same?)
and get it started?
“Students often have difficulty devoting time to work if they're not
sure they'll get individual credit for, and are awfully polite about
each other's work.” Writing problems and lack of critical thinking
will appear here too!
“Challenge them to think more clearly and write coherently, to
demonstrate that they understand that there are other ways of
interpreting data or expressing ideas, and to challenge them to
challenge each other to express differences clearly, cogently,
and with civility and mutual respect.” (How does instructor guide
this via a wiki?)
Assessing contributions (wikipedia flags contributor, but still not
easy)
Examples
First “wiki” created by design pattern community to
discuss pattern languages
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WelcomeVisitors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
– Largest “encyclopedia” created by volunteers! Many languages.
See sister links to Wikitionary, WikiBooks, Wikispecies,
WikiSource, etc., all created by the WikiMedia
Foundation.
http://ssad.bowdoin.edu:8668/space/snipsnap-
index#students (sample class wiki)
What about the software/hosting?
Select wikifarm site that allows access controls
(restrict membership to your class), is achievable,
desired editing features; e.g., www.wikicities.com
Open-source, free wiki software (must run on a
server):
– coWiki (http://www.develnet.org/2.html);
– DokuWiki; Instiki; MediaWiki; MoinMoin; PmWiki;
WikkaWiki….
67 wiki programs listed in Wikipedia, not including
programs that include wiki modules such as Moodle
Resources
http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?WikiWikiSandbox
http://movies.atomiclearning.com/highed/pbwiki
http://digitales.wikispaces.com/
http://lifehacker.com/software/wikipedia/-
296941.php
Track What's Hot With Wikirage
Add Dynamic Tooltips to Wikipedia
Top 10 Wikipedia Tricks
Build Your Own Offline Wikipedia