Wikis: More than Text and Context

1. Wikis: More Than Text and ContextDr. Karen Swenson, Associate Professor, Virginia TechAmber D. Evans-Marcu, Ph.D. Candidate, Virginia TechM. Aaron Bond, Coordinator for eLearning Faculty Development andSupport Services, Virginia Tech

2. TopicsDesigning the CourseWhat are Wikis?VT SciFi WikiStudent Survey DataUsing Wikis – Your turn!Questions & Answers2

3. Designing the Course

4. Designing the CourseContext: Face-to-Face / Hybrid / OnlineAudience, Content, and ContextWho are you instructing?What are you teaching?Where & How are students learning?4

5. Designing the CourseParadigms and PedagogyBehavorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism!Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education (Chickering & Gamson, 1987)Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge - Seven Principles for Cultivating Communities of Practice (Wenger, McDermott, & Snyder, 2002)5

6. English 1654: Introduction to Science Fiction and FantasyOnline80 Students15 weeks6

7. English 1654: Introduction to Science Fiction and FantasyStudents think about important issues presented through works of speculative fiction –definitions of good/evil,self and alien, science and nature, human and machine, human and monster, exploitation and collaboration.Students:Consider definitions of human experience and potential, Demonstrate knowledge through weekly quizzes.Students share ideas in a discussion forum & a speculative fiction wiki.7

8. Learning Objectives and Course Goals (Platonic)Through collaborative work, we willreconsider traditional concepts of "author" and of "self,"suggest collaborative means of living with others,learn to work together to create a better world,encourage a sense of community,encourage an awareness of others’ contributions,become more accustomed to considering ourselves within a context.8

9. What are Wikis?Amber D. Evans

10. What are Wikis?It is a powerful yet flexible collaborative communication tool for developing content-specific Web sites.A wiki is a Web page that can be viewed and modified by anybody with a Web browser and access to the Internet.Popular Wikis includeWikipedia, Wikibooks, Wikihow, LMS WikisMany “flavors” of wikis available:Which Wiki is Right for You? (A matrix)10

11. How does it Work?View & Edit changes while retaining the previous copy.Wikis usecomputer scripting (programming)text filesWeb browserInternet connectionEdit a pageSends a request to the server for the wiki page text.Save a pageSends the revised text to the server and saves “an old copy” as a previous revision.11

12. Why are Wikis Significant?A content-focused approach makes it easy to collaborate and then export it to different formats.Access the current document anytime online.Add new pages or change existing pages.No HTML or coding is required.Compare previous versions.Identify who contributed content.Export the wiki page to Microsoft Word or PDF. 12

13. When to use WikisFeatures:Easy online editing by users.Revision history.Notification of changes.Export options (MS Word, HTML, PDF, etc.)Uses:To capture and record process and procedures.Meeting minutes that anyone can add to.Brainstorming13

14. How can Wikis be Used in Teaching and Learning?Wikis are reflexive & adaptive, growing with use.Easiest and most effective collaboration tool.Versioning showsEvolution of thought & contentsAuthorship & ownershipCan be used to Create ePortfolios, Collaborate on (research) projects, Edit articles or textbooks,Recording process and procedures,Do anything you can imagine!

15. Some Challenges of WikisWikis open windows to collaboration, but sometimes flies get in.Wikis may require monitoring.May need to gain authorization to edit a wiki.Learning curve (new toolbars, new tools)Lack of some features (i.e., Word Count)Content-focused not cosmetic.Hierarchy doesn’t exist (like a concept map)Collective group bias.Remembering to use it!15

16. “Student writing has meaning, power, and significance in this course. Students are shaping both their own words and the words of others in order to create a web of interconnected writings.”The SciFi WikiDr. Karen Swenson

17. “Wiki Aliveness”Design for evolution.Open a dialogue between inside and outside perspectives.Invite different levels of participation.Develop both public and private community spaces.Focus on value.Combine familiarity and excitement.Create a rhythm for the community.Etienne Wenger, Richard McDermott, and William M. Snyder http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/2855.html

18. A Wiki will allow us to:interact with each other in a useful and interesting way,

19. share our knowledge and expertise with others,

20. experience a new form of writing and a new definition of “authorship” made possible by technology,

21. participate in a collaborative enterprise.

22. learn from each other, and

23. have fun together!Wiki Pages – Creating Infrastructure

24. Wiki Pages – Hypertext Essays, Images, Words

25. Wiki Pages – History of Collaboration

26. Wiki DevelopmentThe success of this course wiki led to the creation of a community wiki – the Virginia Tech Speculative Fiction wiki, around which is growing a community of practice beyond the boundaries of the semester.“Play Well and Prosper”

27. Student Survey DataAmber D. Evans

28. Demographics24

29. Demographics25

30. Prior to this course how often did you contribute content to Wikis (Wikipedia, course wiki, etc.) for school, work, or recreation?26

31. Computer Ownership12th Sakai Conference – Los Angeles, California – June 14-1627

32. What is your opinion about the following statement: I get more actively involved in courses that use information technology?28

33. What is your opinion about the following statement: The use of IT in my courses improves my learning.29

34. What is your opinion about the following statement: IT makes doing my course activities more convenient?30

35. Which of the following best describes you?31

36. I learn best through: (choose all that apply)32Use of Instructional technologyPeer CollaborationInteraction with the InstructorEngagingCourse Content

37. I like to learn through contributing towebsites, blogs, wikis, etc.33

38. Closing Comments from Students“Class was really great. Professor Swenson made Science Fiction fun and relevant for me and turned me into a reader.”“Great class, enjoyable and fun thanks for a great year!”“Professor Swenson is the best!”“Class structure was awesome. Great mix of tests, forums, wikis, and final project. Class was one of the most fun I've taken … Swenson is a great teacher though, and her assistant Yakima was VERY helpful. This course covered more material than any class I've ever taken, but ran more smoothly than most. Overall a positive experience.”34

39. Join VTSF Worlds – a Speculative Fiction Community!After this sessionhttp://learn.vt.edu/Username: Your email addressCheck your email for the passwordLook in junk/spam folderContact VT 4Help for assistance.35

40. Thank YouCollaborative work allows us to:reconsider traditional concepts of "author" and of "self,” suggest collaborative means of living with others, learn to work together to create a better world,encourage a sense of community, encourage an awareness of the contributions of others,become more accustomed to considering ourselves within a context.Karen Swensonkarens@vt.eduAssociate Professor of EnglishVirginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061Amber D. Evansadevans@vt.eduIDT Ph. D. CandidateVirginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061M. Aaron Bondmabond@vt.eduVirginia TechBlacksburg, VA 24061

41. Program & Concentra InformationCentra Link: https://www.concentra-cms.com/program/Sakai/2011-sakai-conference/463.htmlSession Wiki Page: https://confluence.sakaiproject.org/x/BY2CBTitle: Wikis: More than Text and ContextSession: Conference Track Session (60 minutes)Date: 06/15/2011Time: 3:45 PM - 4:45 PMRoom: San Gabriel BPresenter(s): Karen Swenson (Virginia Tech)karens@vt.eduAmber D. Evans-Marcu (Virginia Tech)adevans@vt.edu, 530-426-2372M. Aaron Bond (Virginia Tech)mabond@vt.eduOverview:Dr. Karen Swenson, a 2010 Teaching With Sakai Innovation Award finalist, uses the Sakai wiki with her students to “think about important issues presented through works of speculative fiction," but has found there is even more to her students than the wiki reveals. Although the course goals include collaborative work to "reconsider traditional concepts of 'author' and 'self,' working together to build a better world, encourage a sense of community, and become aware of others contributions" her recent collected data provides insight as to "who" are these students in her Sakai Wiki community. Come to this session to see the paradigms that underlie the structure of the course, what the students do with the Wiki in class and after the semester ends, and who these students are (including demographics, previous wiki contributions, and perceptions of self, information technology, and active involvement in their learning process).Sakai Conference 2011 - Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.37

Wikis: More than Text and Context

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