I imagined Wiki as like a classroom OPEN board where a teacher and students can write variety of information pertinent to a common topic. It is not anymore just the teacher writing and students passively copying notes. Students can write on to the board and become active contributors to the lesson.
As simple as my representation is, however, I think that is the fundamental element in wikis – STUDENT EMPOWERMENT. Teaching policies and paradigms have long emphasized of making the students get involved in the classroom. Teachers have to present an engaging lesson that will lead students to pursue further research and applications meaningful in their lives. Well, Wiki is one of the BEST answers.
Victoria Davies and Adam Frey have preached the immense potential of wiki in letting students be active participant in education. As they are good examples of “Walking the Talk”, I admire their passion and their forward thinking in integrating technology in education through wikis. They are well aware of the risks that can derail student learning. However, as Victoria had put it, “IGNORANCE is the main enemy”. I absolutely agree. The use of wiki necessitates training and education. Students have to possess the right attitude (for successful and relevant learning) and the proper skill (grammar and typing) when using wikis. They have to follow the Acceptable Use Policies. Only then, their empowerment has to be guided.
Moreover, student empowerment can be enriching because wikis can be design as a depository of active links that will bring its users to other knowledge sources (print, image, audio, or video). This is one important consideration why wiki is a valuable tool in education. A wiki page of a particular topic can contain many sources of information, which can validate its accuracy and reliability. It can minimize if not eliminate bias. Wiki has the potential to present the most objective content. Wiki can make of a student an erudite and objective learner.
Wiki, then, is an option for effectively educating the students, for allowing them to be involved in their learning, and for empowering them to forge their knowledge objectively.
As simple as my representation is, however, I think that is the fundamental element in wikis – STUDENT EMPOWERMENT. Teaching policies and paradigms have long emphasized of making the students get involved in the classroom. Teachers have to present an engaging lesson that will lead students to pursue further research and applications meaningful in their lives. Well, Wiki is one of the BEST answers.
Victoria Davies and Adam Frey have preached the immense potential of wiki in letting students be active participant in education. As they are good examples of “Walking the Talk”, I admire their passion and their forward thinking in integrating technology in education through wikis. They are well aware of the risks that can derail student learning. However, as Victoria had put it, “IGNORANCE is the main enemy”. I absolutely agree. The use of wiki necessitates training and education. Students have to possess the right attitude (for successful and relevant learning) and the proper skill (grammar and typing) when using wikis. They have to follow the Acceptable Use Policies. Only then, their empowerment has to be guided.
Moreover, student empowerment can be enriching because wikis can be design as a depository of active links that will bring its users to other knowledge sources (print, image, audio, or video). This is one important consideration why wiki is a valuable tool in education. A wiki page of a particular topic can contain many sources of information, which can validate its accuracy and reliability. It can minimize if not eliminate bias. Wiki has the potential to present the most objective content. Wiki can make of a student an erudite and objective learner.
Wiki, then, is an option for effectively educating the students, for allowing them to be involved in their learning, and for empowering them to forge their knowledge objectively.
CREDITS
PODCAST SOURCE (Victoria Davies & Adam Frey)
Image Source: www.softwaremag.com/.../
1 comment:
Oh so wise, as always. You did a better job highlighting the aspect of wikis to empower learners than the podcast. I didn't think of this part of it, but you're right - it can eliminate bias when the information is coming from different sources. Actually, one of the criticisms I had heard about wikis is that they weren't always factually accurate. It makes sense that the more responsible users you have would actually contribute to the accuracy of the content.
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