What are your thoughts about using Wikis in the Media Center? How can they be used most effectively? Are there drawbacks to Wikis?
As you perused the Wikis in the readings above, did you find uses you thought particularly strong? Particularly weak?
While Wikis are touted as collaborative tools, many seem to be passive "storage cabinets." What elements need to be present to move them toward being active spaces for collaboration?
I do not see using a specific media center wiki for students unless it is for reading bowl activities or some other focus groups. On the flip side- a teacher-lead wiki could used for media center collaborative projects ideas and student presentation/research projects and information in regard to curriculum and lesson planning. The wiki would not have to be edited independently but could be used as an open source note taking device when lesson planning with other teachers.
The SLMS can create a media center wiki that could be more dynamic in nature that the standard static library web page. Media center updates-the calendar-collection additions and book highlights/reviews could be added to the wiki in lieu of teacher emails or a newsletter.
In my opinion, wiki's work best for short term projects unless the particular wiki is well marketed/advertised (such as wikipedia) it will remain static. Even the library-centric wiki "libsuccess.org" which I looked over for this bloge entry has not recently updated and much of the information is our of date or links are no longer in use. The format of the wiki is very bland and reads like a list of links. the Apalachee HS Media Center wiki is also very bland and out of date-- It has a sloppy appearance and to view news and updatesa ws awkward and not easily apparent.
I also feel the lack of ownership can be one reason that wikis can fail. One person creates the wiki template and hopes the community at large or a preselected group will provide the content. If the core information and overall look is not in place- such that users are drawn to the wiki on its own merit- then the wiki will continue to grow slowly or not at all.
As you perused the Wikis in the readings above, did you find uses you thought particularly strong? Particularly weak?
While Wikis are touted as collaborative tools, many seem to be passive "storage cabinets." What elements need to be present to move them toward being active spaces for collaboration?
I do not see using a specific media center wiki for students unless it is for reading bowl activities or some other focus groups. On the flip side- a teacher-lead wiki could used for media center collaborative projects ideas and student presentation/research projects and information in regard to curriculum and lesson planning. The wiki would not have to be edited independently but could be used as an open source note taking device when lesson planning with other teachers.
The SLMS can create a media center wiki that could be more dynamic in nature that the standard static library web page. Media center updates-the calendar-collection additions and book highlights/reviews could be added to the wiki in lieu of teacher emails or a newsletter.
In my opinion, wiki's work best for short term projects unless the particular wiki is well marketed/advertised (such as wikipedia) it will remain static. Even the library-centric wiki "libsuccess.org" which I looked over for this bloge entry has not recently updated and much of the information is our of date or links are no longer in use. The format of the wiki is very bland and reads like a list of links. the Apalachee HS Media Center wiki is also very bland and out of date-- It has a sloppy appearance and to view news and updatesa ws awkward and not easily apparent.
I also feel the lack of ownership can be one reason that wikis can fail. One person creates the wiki template and hopes the community at large or a preselected group will provide the content. If the core information and overall look is not in place- such that users are drawn to the wiki on its own merit- then the wiki will continue to grow slowly or not at all.
Hello there Catherine!
ReplyDeleteIn beginning this assignment, I thought to myself, “Oh no not another what do I think of wiki’s assignment!” To be honest, I still don’t see the importance of using a wiki in a classroom or in a media center! So, I set out to read the information that Dr. Cooper provided on wiki’s to learn more about what they are and how they are used. On each resource, the word collaboration rang throughout. You stated in your post that you think that it would be more beneficial for teacher collaborative use than student use. I originally thought that as well, however after reading how wiki’s are being used on the Vanderbilt site provided to use, I began thinking in a different light. I agree with you that it would be of good use for students in terms of reading bowl activities. For example, at my school we have a Book Club that usually meets after school occasionally and once or twice a month in the media center during lunch. I can see where the students of this Book Club could benefit from the use of a wiki to give the students a chance to expand/further express their knowledge and insights from their readings of the current book club book. They could also use the wiki to collaborate on choosing the next book they want to read as a group. Also, after exploring the article entitled Wiki’s Give a Book New Life, I can see how the use of a wiki could even foster communication with other students in another school who may be reading the same book! Students could use this tool to communicate with other schools all across the world as a collaborative effort to bring the students together and to give the students to get insights on the book that they may have never even thought of because of cultural differences etc. I don’t think that a wiki is good for teacher collaboration because of the simple fact that it can be changed or edited by others. Teachers would probably benefit from a technology closer to file sharing such as dropbox.com where they can upload and retrieve different materials as a way to collaborate. I also agree with you that in order for a wiki to be successful, it must be kept up-to-date! Students and teachers definitely loose interest in technology quick that is out of date which makes it useless! Lastly, to respond to your last paragraph of comments, I think that if a wiki is incorporated into the media center, it is crucial to constantly promote its use so that it is not thrown by the waste side. My principal always tells us to be excited about whatever we are teaching or projects that we are introduces or initiatives that we are implementing to build merit amongst the students and I don’t think that this initiative would be any different.
Great post Catherine. I have not been a fan of Wikis and am still reluctant to use them. When I had the Pathfinder project in MEDT 7477 (I think) I was able to see how collaboration with a project was a strong point when using wiki but I also saw how adding style and creativeness was a weak point. Looking at the Apalachee example didn't help the case for wanting to use a wiki for a website. It was unattractive and trying to search for information was not easy. I believe a Media Center should have a website that would draw students into WANTING to search for information and WANT to explore what the media center may offer. I know personally that the website for my school's media center is one that students and teachers alike use to find tons of information about not only books but technology, apps, websites and news. I think Wiki's have a great concept and you hit the nail on the head by saying they could be useful for short-term projects. I can see where a teacher could create a Pathfinder for a class or a student would use this resource for a project - but overall, there is more user-friendly, creative software out there for media centers to use.
ReplyDeleteWikis are great tools for group work whether it be with students or teachers so I agree with you that they work well for short term projects. It was said that a wiki is nothing more than a storage cabinet but isn't that what is needed when working with a group - a place to bring everyone's ideas and work together? What is good about a wiki is that students can work on it at the same time. Wikis are also simple to use and are free. So for me I don't want to waste a lot of time teaching a tool when I could be teaching content.
ReplyDeleteAs a media specialist, I plan to use Pathfinders (like Amanda mentioned) to collaborate with teachers. Giving them a place to find resources to aid them with their teaching. And I would welcome teachers offering up resources to add to the Pathfinder.
Catherine you made some great points on the shortcomings of wikis, especially with regard to the community atmosphere of the presentation of information. While I never thought of that as a failing, I certainly see your point, as no one individual takes responsibility for what is posted to the site, which leads to an absolute chaotic conglomeration of mismatched information that may or may not have some truth to it. With this in mind and the fact that wikis must constantly be serviced in order to stay relevant, I wonder if they will succeed in the near future, or fall out of use altogether. And if they do, will the educational realm and the library media center be better for it?
ReplyDeleteLearning is not confined to the classroom and wikis allow learning to place outside the school building. I agree with the assertion that wikis can be storage cabinets for information but who says that have to remain that way? I remember using a wiki with my classes many years ago and it was great for collaboration and spurring class discussions but with the creation of Google, many of the uses of wikis have been phased out along with the potential problems that you pointed out in your original post.
ReplyDeleteI have been enlighten by reading your post about wikis being used with upper elementary reading. Since I am an upper elementary teacher, I have only thought of using wikis for Science and Social Studies research. Your post has given me ideas of how I can incorporate wikis in my reading classes, especially through novel studies. As my students read "A to Z Mysteries: Mystery on the Mayflower", I could support their inquiries about the genre of mysteries and guide them on other mysteries that they might enjoy. I could also link Scholastic's Thanksgiving unit and the virtual field trip to the Mayflower to my wiki. Students could share what they are learning at school to their parents at home. This would definitely help students make connections between their home and school.
ReplyDelete