Looking for a way to engage your students in content? Why not try a wiki?
Many have heard of the term “wiki,” most often associated with the extremely popular website, Wikipedia. Wikipedia often gets a bad reputation among educators because of what it is…a wiki in which anyone can add content.
I had a TERRIBLE experience with Wikipedia when I was student teaching. Ok, may TERRIBLE is a slight exaggeration, but it was still a pain! I was doing research for a presentation about the Bill of Rights, I searched the topic on Google, and the first hit was a Wikipedia entry. I decided to give good ole’ Wikipedia a chance. The first phrase of the entry started as it should have, with information about the creation of the Bill of Rights, its necessity and so on. After the opening sentence, the rest of the post said, “Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah.” FOR AN ENTIRE PAGE! Needless to say, I was slightly annoyed and turned away from Wikipedia.
I’m sure if you went to Wikipedia today to search for the Bill of Rights, you would be met with wonderful, factual information in a neat and organized format.
Rant over 🙂 I’m once again open to the concept of a wiki…used properly…in education!
So, the question is, how can wikis be used in education? Can they be used in our classrooms?
Wikis can be used in so many ways, and I cannot wait to begin teaching my blended Western Civ class this summer to implement this neat tool!
According to TechTerms.com, a wiki is defined as, “a website that allows users to add and update content on the site using their own web browser.”
In my classroom, I’m excited to use wikis as a COLLABORATION tool!
- Students can use wikis to…
- Compile resources for a project
- Review classmates’ work
- Discuss contemporary issues and provide resources for their classmates to read
- Instead of just claiming something has happened, students can provide resources describing an event!
- Post questions they have for a test
- Collaboratively review for a test with other students
- Communicate with their teacher and classmates outside of the brick and mortar classroom
The possibilities are ENDLESS!
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