Evaluation of Wikis as a Resource

This week's reading in our textbook is about Wikis. After reading this chapter I have a new appreciation for the importance of using this tool. As I consider traditional criteria used for evaluating resources and goals for 21C learning, I am starting to see the value of incorporating this collaboration tool into education.

Is the resource current?

Wikis are current. Wikis that are frequently attended to obviously have an advantage over print. The author gives an example of how quickly information was published on Wikipedia during the Indian Ocean earthquake/tsunami. Wikipedia currently has about 400,000 edits per day (p 57). As I think about our group project assignment it is clear that using wiki's will allow us to define purpose, pull resources together and update a lot of information quickly. The result will likely be a better product than we would have created individually.

Is the resource accurate?

Some people are concerned about this one. I had to laugh when the author mentioned that some might think that Wikepedia should be called Wackopedia (p 56). Obviously, not all wikis are accurate, but by design they have built in checks and balances.

Is the resource unbiased?

This is possibly the most advantageous reason to use a wiki in that it provides an opportunity for people with different perspectives to contribute to the thinking. This is not how education worked during my K-16 career, but collaboration is definitely a major focus in 21stC education. This is world changing. One thing that stood our in the text was the importance of "using discussion tabs by editors and contributors to carryout negotiations over what should appear in the entry being created". He advocates reading the discussions to get a feel for the different perspectives but also to "get a sense of the give and take skills that will serve our students well in the future." This seems like a good tip. In any case, the friendly challenges that occur in the collaboration process promote deeper thinking and possibly a new way of thinking.

The implications of using wikis to communicate and create new information is monumental. It provides a structure that encourages higher level thinking. It is freeing and in some respects reminds me of the transition from typewriter to word processor. The ability to correct and rearrange text made for a richer product that shifted the focus from mechanical to cognitive. The use of wikis and working in collaboration is another coupe that will shift the focus from a self reliant approach to a more synergistic approach. Using collaborative tools such as wikis helps to set the stage for the creation of a superior product with more depth and breadth as well as a richer experience for the learner.