Teaching Writing with Web 2'0 Tools

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Teaching Writing with Web 2.0 Tools

• Wikis

http//facweb.bhc.edu/TLC/tech/stepbystep/NewTechS
eries/wikis.ppt
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What is a wiki?

• "wiki" comes from a Hawaiian term for quick, in
  reference to the rapid rate at which wiki Web
  sites change wikiwikireally quick!
• A collaborative, organized, online knowledge-base
  within which many people can add, delete, and
  edit content (i.e, document editing from a
  browser no programming knowledge needed)
• Software used to create such an environment (runs
  on server)
• Public wikis (wikipedia) vs. community/private
  wikis (within a college class, for example)

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How is it being used in HE?

• Comment on a documents contents (e.g., line of
  poetry book review, art critique students
  select a phrase/word/sentence and post
  alternative comments or questions about it)
• Often not allow deleting or posting anonymously,
  common on public wikis
• Helps with short, compact, screen-friendly
  writing
• Correct/fix/edit a document and provide
  justification for changes in the discussion area.
• Construct a researched site of resources, such as
  a set of publications, protocols and submission
  tools for sending off essays for potential
  publication

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How is it being used in HE?

• Annotate a succinct essay or study guide with
  attached links, reference materials, critiques,
  cross-referenced topics.
• Fix an essay full of errors with suggested fixes,
  resource documentation to support error
  corrections, etc.
• Build on a blog by extracting a key post from the
  blog, put it into a wiki format, and invite
  specific comments/edits/contributions.
• What else?

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Challenges

• How to structure assignment (Indiv. Works and
  others comment? Instructor-chosen work, and all
  comment on same?) and get it started?
• Students often have difficulty devoting time to
  work if they're not sure they'll get individual
  credit for, and are awfully polite about each
  other's work. Writing problems and lack of
  critical thinking will appear here too!
• Challenge them to think more clearly and write
  coherently, to demonstrate that they understand
  that there are other ways of interpreting data or
  expressing ideas, and to challenge them to
  challenge each other to express differences
  clearly, cogently, and with civility and mutual
  respect. (How does instructor guide this via a
  wiki?)
• Assessing contributions (wikipedia flags
  contributor, but still not easy)

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Examples

• First wiki created by design pattern community
  to discuss pattern languages http//c2.com/cgi/wik
  i?WelcomeVisitors
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Largest encyclopedia created by volunteers!
  Many languages.
• See sister links to Wikitionary, WikiBooks,
  Wikispecies, WikiSource, etc., all created by the
  WikiMedia Foundation.
• http//ssad.bowdoin.edu8668/space/snipsnap-index
  students (sample class wiki)

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What about the software/hosting?

• Select wikifarm site that allows access controls
  (restrict membership to your class), is
  achievable, desired editing features e.g.,
  www.wikicities.com
• Open-source, free wiki software (must run on a
  server)
• coWiki (http//www.develnet.org/2.html)
• DokuWiki Instiki MediaWiki MoinMoin PmWiki
  WikkaWiki.
• 67 wiki programs listed in Wikipedia, not
  including programs that include wiki modules such
  as Moodle

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Resources

• http//c2.com/cgi/wiki?WikiWikiSandbox
• http//movies.atomiclearning.com/highed/pbwiki
• http//digitales.wikispaces.com/
• http//lifehacker.com/software/wikipedia/-296941.p
  hp
• Track What's Hot With Wikirage
• Add Dynamic Tooltips to Wikipedia
• Top 10 Wikipedia Tricks
• Build Your Own Offline Wikipedia