CIL2007: Learning with Blogs and Wikis

Meredith Farkas & Michelle Boule (http://michellemeredith.pbwiki.com/Learning%20with%20Blogs%20and%20Wikis)

  • What is a blog
    • frequently updated page with posts presented in reverse-chronological order

  • What’s cool about them
    • don’t need to know HTML
    • easy to update
    • don’t need server space
    • outputs RSS

  • How are blogs used in education?
    • Course management system
    • faculty communication w/ students
    • class news
    • course reflection
    • reflective learning
    • space for dialog & feedback
    • language/writing practice
    • alternative to discussion forum
    • [examples shown available on presentation URL above]
  • What is a wiki
    • a web site anyone in a group can create and edit w/o HTML
  • What’s cool about it?
    • don’t need HTML
    • quick updating
    • everyone can add their 2 cents
    • view page history and track changes
  • How can wikis be used in education?
    • course management system
    • stimulate class discussion
    • group projects
    • student space to build identity and portfolio of work
  • Blogs / Wikis cage match
    • b: more structured w: less structured
    • b: ownership w: egalitarian

    • b: best for chronological order w: knowledgebases, documents, directories
    • b: lends itself to reflective writing w: great for working in groups
    • b: more pressure to post w: have to trust your students
  • Five Weeks to a Social Library
    • “The first free, grassroots, completely online course devoted to
      teaching librarians about social software and how to use it in their
      libraries.”
    • Model
      • 40 participants
      • small group weekly chats
      • sync & async presentations
      • weekly activities
      • participants blog & coment
      • final project: implement one tool in your library
    • Why?
      • continuing education needed
      • conference attendance dificult
      • One-day workshop not enough
      • many online classes require expensive tools
    • Drupal
      • allowed each student to have a blog
      • each post listed on central page
      • add-ons like chat rooms
      • Drupal creators have control over the site
      • many RSS options
      • Blogging to reflect on learning
      • blogging to get feedback
      • blogging to create a record
    • Media Wiki
      • runs wikipedia
      • common in libraries
      • lots of documentation
      • wikis for directories
      • wikis for quick collaborative pages
      • wikis for building a personal space
    • Steal this idea
      • don’t have to teach in 5 weeks
      • don’t have to use the same tools
      • don’t have to cover the same topics
      • do need to provide for reflection of experiment
      • do need to allow for many conversations
      • do need to use tools that are easy
      • do need to be flexible
      • do need to hve an open process
      • do need multiple modes of learning (audio, video, etc)
    • What participants said…
  • Tips for blogs in education
    • provide documentation and/or training
    • keep comments open
    • blog to start dialogues
    • don’t try to control discussions
    • allow for unpopular views
    • be willing to change based on feedback
    • remember that some people are uncomfortable w/ public writing
  • Tips for wikis in education
    • training often required
    • create a sandbox for experimentation
    • wikis can get messy
    • don’t control too much

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