Saturday, August 1, 2009

Wiki's and Cooperative Learning

What is a Wiki

Watch this Youtube clip to gain a better understanding of a Wiki.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmByB0sIPog


During the construction of my very first Wiki, I began to realise the impacts that this little piece of technology can have within the classroom. A Wiki is essentially a collection of hyperlinked web pages that are assembled with wiki software and reflects the view of the facilitator who shares and receives information with others (Mindel & Verma,2006).

Prior to the construction of my Wiki, two of my fellow colleagues(Kerri and Nari) and myself decided to use a collaborative effort and build wikis with meaning for our Learning Management course. We chose topics which all students could respond and provide ideas for future teaching strategies, such as -

1. Five minute fillers (http://technological-competence.wikispaces.com/)
2. Attention getting techniques (http://kellieswiki.wikispaces.com/)
3. Transitioning activities (http://nariswiki.wikispaces.com/)

Siemens (2004) states that "Connectivism is driven by the fact that new information is continually acquired." Through the processes of a wiki it is possible for a larger collaborative effort and for all learning management students to have the opportunity to provide and acquire new or broarder knowledge on the above topics. The participation in these wikis will provide a comprehensive list of classroom strategies which will prove to be instrumental in your future teaching endeavours.

One of the strongest advocates for cooperative learning is Vygotsky (1978), who states that The Zone of Proximal Development(ZPD) is the area where the most sensitive instruction should be given. ZPD allows students to work together with peers and introduces the concepts of peer tutoring and knowledge sharing. Wikis can be used as an individual learning tool which still provides a social network from which a student can collaboratively learn, or as an in class cooperative tool where essentially the ZPD will assist in developing skills and strategies (Vygotsky, 1978).

Kellie


References

Mindel, J., Verma, S.(2006). Citing computer references. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from
http://cais.aisnet.org/articles/18-1/default.asp?View=Journal&x=24&y=8
Vygotsky, L. (1978). Citing computer references. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from
http://.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/vygotsky.html
Siemens, G. (2004). Citing computer references. Retrieved July 18, 2009, from
http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivesm.htm

No comments:

Post a Comment