The Wonderful World of Wikis

You have to see this video on wikis :)

 

Using web 2.0 tools are now more accessible and necessary for media specialists than ever before.  Web tools are powerful technologies that create endless teaching opportunities for the 21^st century learner.  One tool that has grown in popularity most recently is a wiki.  Wikis are websites that can be edited and saved by anyone with a computer and internet access.  They provide a common space for collaboration and connections.  Wikis are used for a wide variety of reasons.  From a massive online encyclopedia, to a space for vacation plans, wikis provide the ultimate experience in collaboration without having to deal with fancy programs or training.  The term wiki comes from the Hawaiian word used for referring to something that is quick (2005).  These quick and easy sites were originally created to help users post, share, and edit information “on the fly” (2005).  Being a multi-user blog with capabilities to upload images, videos, and links, this technology has coined itself the collaboration-king among web 2.0 tools.

Sounds like a bit too much collaboration for you?  If the thought of your hard work being changed or even deleted by a stranger makes your stomach turn, you’re not alone.  Many users feel that a wiki offers a great opportunity to collaborate; however, boundaries are often necessary when sharing work on the web.  This is why many wiki sites have an option to create authorizations to be group members.  Group members are then the only ones who can edit the site.  This creates more structure to those editing the wiki.  Another drawback is creating a wiki site may involve more initial time and skill (and even more so if group members will be used and invited).  The site might require an IT admin or techy-guru (we all know them at our schools!) to help with the start-up.  Once a wiki is created, using it is essential!  Many wikis become dead space if users are not actively changing or updating information.  Some users choose to have a moderator to monitor the site and encourage participation.

Wikis are great tools for anyone to use, but its popularity seems to have migrated towards being used by educators and media specialists.  Media centers can use a wiki site for any collaborative effort for both students and teachers.  Wikis offer the ability to upload images, embed videos and links, and (my favorite!) embed outside sources like a Glogster.  Media specialists can use a wiki to promote book talks and group research, create and share book trailers for new titles, feature special events within the school, and even provide a space for students to share and use pathfinders.  Instead of holding an in-service meeting at the school, media specialists can create a wiki to share information and encourage feedback and interactions from teachers.  As our standards grow closer alike with the creation of the Common Core standards, teachers could greatly benefit from using a wiki to share lesson plans, unit studies, and pathfinders. 

As I researched and visited several wikis, one site stuck out above the rest and made me realize how useful a wiki can be for collaborative efforts!  Below is a link to the site Webtools4u2use. 

Webtools4u2use

This wiki was created for school library specialists by two media specialists in Florida.  The site was created to encourage media specialists to share definitions and examples of web 2.0 tools.  Though you have to be a member to edit the site (which you can apply), it serves as an invaluable tool for educators to use and share ideas to promote the 21^st century standards.

Great!  How do I get started you ask?  Although there are TONS, literally, TONS of amazing web tools available, wikis are one that cannot be touched when it comes to collaboration.  Wikis take collaboration to a new level with online interactions and sharing work.  After all, as educators, aren’t we constantly “borrowing” each other’s work anyway?   Why not provide a space to say, “Here, use this!  And better yet, improve it as you see fit for the next person!”?  There are endless ways wikis can help media specialists as we journey toward creating opportunities for sharing and connecting to better serve our faculties and students.  The first step is to begin searching wikis already available and find one that fits your school’s need.  You will probably find wikis online that you were ready to create.  Once you find the wikis available, remember your school’s need(s) and focus in on those.  If you’re feeling confident, create one for your school to share lesson plans or unit studies.  However you decide to use wikis, remember that collaboration is key!  If people are not interacting with the wiki, it’s not serving its purpose.  Good luck and happy wikiing!

References:

Leelefever. (2007). Wikis in plain English (video).  Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

 

7 things you should know about wikis. (2005, July). Retrieved October 2, 2012, from Educause website: http://www.educause.edu/eli