EDTK 2030: Information and Communication Technologies in Education
Last Graded Discussion: Critique of an Educational Wiki Site
E-tutor: Debra- Dreana Marshall Stuart
Shonella Morgan
November 22nd 2015
Introduction
Keeping the lines of communication open has and always will be beneficial to the success of any relationship endeavour, for much can be done through open communication and collaboration. The inventors of Information Technology and Information Communication recognise this fact, as a result convergence was done, (Wild, 2006; Chapman & Slaymaker, 2002), to what is known as Information Communication Technology (ICT). Over the years ICT in the classroom has been use for teaching and for students’ learning, (U.S. Department of Education, n.d). Moreover, ICT web 2.0 tools since gaining entrance into the learning environment have proven that learners gain knowledge and experiences form their engagement with the emerging technologies and in conjunction with the various learning theories (Anderson, 2010, pp. 23-39), as they use the tools for communication and collaboration. One kind of ICT tool web 2.0 is the wiki which offers the most suitable affordances for teachers and students to communicate, collaborate and problem solve. The wiki is a site that affords for content to be written and edited by multiple authors; it is a place for collaboration of ideas (Laouris, Underwood, Laouri & Christakis, 2010). Therefore, the wiki must have specific objectives for its use, be user-friendly; has specific general features and be evaluated for relevant improvements.
Specific objectives with wiki use, allows for parents and teachers to know exactly the learning outcomes for students, (Berger & Trexler, 2010, p. 100), as they engage with the tools to aid their learning. Wikis provide learners and teachers a comfortable space for communication and collaboration, as such, there needs to be a purpose as to why the wiki is intended. Having looked at the following educational wiki site:https://mrssheftelsclass.wikispaces.com/mrssheftelsclass, it is observed that the objectives of this site is for parents to know what their children are doing in the classroom and for children to access their homework at anytime and share their ideas on on the topics the teacher sets for discussions.
Moreover, the user-friendliness of this educational wiki site, allows students to be motivated, since the features are easy to use, (Mitchell, 2006). Hence, when one examines this wiki site, it will be evident that this site is easy to navigate from one area to the next. Also there is wide information provided for all users: Students, teachers and parents. Additionally, this wiki is user-friendly, in that it allows for all students to share their ideas on the topic posted, (EDTK 2030, unit 4, pp. 113 & 120).
Importantly, the general features of this wiki site can be seen according to what Klobas, (2006, pp. 7-10) states a wiki should have: There is a reason for the existence of the wiki and who are the intended users; the topics that are posted to be discussed; it contains the name of the author and its organisation: Mrs. Sheftel's Class Wikipage!! There are pages and interlink pages so that users view the pages in the web browser; there is provision for members to edit. By clicking on the ‘Homework’ tab, one will see the area where students can edit, hence as Klobas says, “The wiki reflects the collaborative work of a community”. Other features noted is that ‘Guest’ cannot edit the wiki, as one has to be a member to do so, thus safeguards have been put in place to protect the content and the users of the wiki. As a result a ‘Join’ tab is provided for potential or aspiring members to join the community. Important too, is that this site do have an RSS feed, which can be found at the bottom right of ‘Pages and files’, which alerts members of changes that occur in the wiki.
Lastly, the wiki needs to be evaluated so that relevant changes if necessary can be made. Some observations noted in this wiki that needs improvement on, is that it has no date of its last update; also from viewing members’ contribution the most resent date is 2012 and the last resource uploaded for students was since May and a PDF in 2010. Hence, the wiki needs updating to be more relevant. According to Klobas, (2006), the author states that for wikis to maintain their relevance, then they must be evaluated so that there can be improvements in its contents.
Conclusion
The Wiki would not be effective it there are no specific objectives for its use. Also if it is not user-friendly, then users would find it difficult to use and as such the purpose for the wiki will be lost because persons will not participate in the community, thus communication and collaboration will not take place. Therefore, it is imperative that in the building of a wiki site clear and purposeful objectives must be set, and ensuring that all the relevant features are in place, for this will add to the effectiveness of the wiki. Finally, continual upgrading the wiki will make it relevant to the changing times of technology innovations, and because collaboration and two-way communication is important for persons to learn from each other and to solve problems collaboratively, (Wellburn, & Eib, 2010).
References
Anderson, T. (2010). Theories for Learning with Emerging Technologies. In Velesianos, G. (Ed.), Foundations of Emerging Technologies in Distance Education (pp. 23-39): AU Press, Athabasca University 1200, 10011 – 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8. Retrieved from: http://www.icde.org/filestore/News/2004-2010/2010/G.Veletsianose-bookEmergingTechnologies.pdf
Berger, P. & Trexler, S. (2010). Choosing Web 2.0 tools for learning and teaching in a digital world. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited, p. 100.
Chapman, R., & T Slymaker. (2002). ICTs and rural development: Review of the literature, current interventions and opportunities for action. Overseas development institute, p. 1. Retrieved from:http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/2670.pdf
EDTK 2030: Information Communication Technologies in Education. (2013). Educational application of web 2.0 tools, unit 4. Pp. 113-120. UWI Open Campus. [Essential Readings].
Klobas, J. (2006). Wikis, from social software to social information space. In J. Klobas (Ed.), Wikis: Tools for information work and collaboration. (pp. 7-10.). Oxford, England: Chandos Publishing.
Laouris, Y., Underwood, G., Laouri, R. & Christakis, A. (2010). Structured dialogue embedded within emerging technologies, pp. 153-173. Retrieved from: In Velesianos, G. (Ed.), Foundations of Emerging Technologies in Distance Education (pp. 23-39): AU Press, Athabasca University 1200, 10011 – 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8. Retrieved from: http://www.icde.org/filestore/News/2004-2010/2010/G.Veletsianose-bookEmergingTechnologies.pdf
Mitchell, P.(2006). Wikis in education. In J. Klobas (Ed.), Wikis: Tools for information work and collaboration. (pp. 119-147.). Oxford, England: Chandos Publishing.
U.S. Department of Education. (n.d). Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/oii-news/use-technology-teaching-and-learning
Wellburn, E., & Eib., B.J. (2010). Theories for Learning with Emerging Technologies. In Velesianos, G. (Ed.), Foundations of Emerging Technologies in Distance Education (pp. 23-39): AU Press, Athabasca University 1200, 10011 – 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5J 3S8. Retrieved from:http://www.icde.org/filestore/News/2004-2010/2010/G.Veletsianose-bookEmergingTechnologies.pdf
Wild, K. (2006). The importance of convergence in the ICT policy environment. APC issue papers, p. 1. Retrieved from: http://www.apc.org/en/pubs/issue/importance-convergence-ict-policy-environme
