Wikis in the Classroom

Even though blogs are interesting, there is so much more one can do with a wiki. Teacher’sFirst described wikis as a way for continuous editing of a document. Therefore, when there is continuous editing, isn’t the product only getting better? Maybe yes, maybe no.

In terms of Wikipedia, it is great to see everyone’s thoughts coming together to create a meaning and/or document on a specific term or topic. However, how do we know that information is always correct? We don’t. Yet, the great part about this aspect is that everyone can learn and bounce ideas off one another, and although the answer may not be 100% correct, it can be edited. However, this is an issue when it comes to using Wikipedia as a source, because we do not know that the information is always accurate. However, wikis can be used in multiple ways, they do not just have to be used as a source.

Some Ways to Use Wikis in the Classroom

This is what makes wikis so awesome, because they can be used in a variety of ways for educational purposes. I personally would love to use wiki’s as a part of my future classroom, and not only for my students, but also my parents. One reason I think it is a great tool is because it allows children to bounce ideas off of one another when working on a group project. It will also allow them to continually edit their work, and it can promote teamwork, within the classroom. If we want classroom’s to be a community, then we must provide tools that support that community aspect. Secondly, as for my children’s parents, I think it could be a great tool for multiple reasons. First off, it allows parents to communicate and share ideas, and discuss them as a group. Secondly, with wikis I can share so much more with parents. This, along with many other reasons, is why wikis are a great tool for classrooms. Yet, the only thing, as mentioned previously, is that one has to be careful because people can change and turn things around. Therefore, the discussion of how to work on a wiki with others is very important, as we do not want anyone to think that their contribution is not appreciated. 

All in all, wikis are a great tool, and as our world becomes more and more technology based, I think it is something that classrooms should look into using more often.