Let's have a think, shall we, about Wikis: Pros and Cons for The Adult Learner
First, a little history of wiki, as outlined by West and West (2009) in video form (above).
Ranging from free, fee based and self hosted sites, all give varying levels of support and security (West and West, 2009). Let's think about the pros and cons of wikis for adult learners.
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| Putting on their Thinking Caps with Rodin's Thinker |
First, let's look at the cons: We all know about Wikipedia for sure, and we are warned of its possible inaccuracies. Why is that? Well, it's because anyone can edit the pages due to its collaborative nature as a free online encyclopedia (West and West, 2009). Although there are people that monitor such change to help keep the information relevant and accurate, those are the risks.
Some wiki host sites require a bit of background in online page building, which could present challenges for beginners (West and West, 2009). Keeping on top of spelling, grammar, conciseness of content while avoiding controversy among peers are also major concerns for adult learners (King and Cox, 2011).
Now, what are the pros? A wiki allows individuals from different backgrounds and experiences to collaborate, and increases the knowledge and expertise of those collaborators, creating a community of practice (King and Cox, 2011).
Other benefits include learning ethics, responsibility, internet reputation and while there is interdependence of team members, each learner is responsible for their contribution. This allows for cooperative and conversational opportunities, and allows for asynchronous contributions when face to face interactions are not possible (King and Cox, 2011).
Final thoughts: While there are concerns of using wikis in adult learning, the opportunities to team build through the shared experience of collaboration can create opportunities for growth through skill building, sharing research/resources, and learning from others experiences, which are all valuable for adult learners.
References:
Computer History Museum. (2016, December 21). Ward Cunningham, Inventor of the Wiki[Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/cScvrgzG6Do
King, K. P., & Cox, T. D. (2011). The professor's guide to taming technology: Leveraging digital media, web 2.0, and more for learning. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing, Inc.
- West, J. A., & West, M. L. (2009). Using wikis for online collaboration: The power of the read-write Web. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
I enjoyed your title, and the possibility that leads to a discussion. When you mentioned how students need to keep spelling, grammar and conciseness of content while avoiding controversy among peers, that made me think about my ESL students. I work with a Beginner group, their vocabulary is limited, and they are learning how to use English grammar correctly. I think it would be a challenge to ask my students to work on a wiki, when they struggle with making themselves understand. I could probably end up with guiding them into doing the simplest of wikis, maybe working on picture dictionaries, or finding videos or activities to improve their grammar. However, I find myself giving my students some alternative content on CANVAS. How would you use wiki collaboration in your work/with your students? I am fascinated by the use of wikis in other aspects that are not ESL!
ReplyDeleteThanks Elsa!
DeleteIn truth, the only times I have used wiki's were in class. I know that there was discussion in our department on starting a wiki page, but in the end it sounded more like a blog to me. That aside when I saw the drafts it felt like a wiki page already existed for it, and upon research I found that I was right. I hated to rain on their parade but they had to concede that we were just reinventing the wheel.
While I cannot relate to your scenario I can only imagine that it would cause a lot of stress and confusion if ESL students needed to collaborate on a wiki. I think that what you describe, such as creating picture dictionaries and finding activities to skill build are excellent ideas. Visuals are so powerful and are great for communication. I remember someone once saying that if you are in another country and you say "bathroom" no one might understand what you are saying, but if you draw a picture then almost instantly there is a connection through the visual.
When visiting on those points I think that being an instructor, especially one that is working with adult learners, takes a lot of consideration and empathy. Thank you for all of your work assisting ESL students, I know that they appreciate you very much!
I definitely appreciate the video in this post! I always find the word "wiki" to be so strange. But as he states, maybe the more I use it the less weird it will sound!
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of how easy to use wikis seem to be; especially when you consider Google doc a wiki, as pointed out be someone else's blog post. I had no idea? I have been using them all along and didn't even realize it!
I didn't mean to submit that comment as I wasn't quite finished.
DeleteConsidering the wide range of wikis available, it is interested how easy to use some are (Google docs) and how others are created way less equal. We use a wiki at work and people are always complaining about how complicate it is to use. For example, inserting a chart requires some coding knowledge and most people don't have the time or desire to learn how to code to insert a simple table when they could easily use other forms of software. I agree, I don't like using any technology if it is not super user friendly and easy to learn!
I really think that you hit on a point when you describe your work wiki Bo. Sometimes I do think taking the time to learn is not the priority, but I think that an opportunity is missed. When I say that I mean that they might be missing an opportunity to find a new way of doing things. That said, sometimes it really is labor intensive and not worth the strain on the brain.
DeleteI think that things have come a lot way in accessibility and creating user friendly software. Being able to share photos and experiences by working on collaborative projects has become more simple over time, and I appreciate the work that is done to bring us to that point! It is little wonder why people tend to dig in when they become comfortable.
Thanks for your comment!
JaiMenon - I have really enjoyed your blog so far, and agree with much of what you shared this week. In particular, the lack of spell check is a problem for many. With the reputation Wikipedia has given wikis of being a questionable source, bad spelling or grammar can only make that worse. Even the best, most impactful research could be perceived as unfounded if the delivery is not spelled/presented well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
KLM@KSU - So very true, concerning your comment about spelling and grammar. I remember they stopped teaching us grammar in 6th grade at the school I attended. It was never picked back up in high school. I wonder if there was a reason or if it was assumed we would learn it through the books we read up through our senior year. I just remember getting to college and my first few papers coming back so slashed up with red that I felt like being there was pointless. One professor encouraged me by sending me to an on campus resource. Not everyone has someone to encourage them along, and imagine doing an online project that gets torn apart by peers or professors for everyone to see! It would be an intimidating environment for sure, and a sharp learning curve! Although I am sure it does not happen that often, and most people encourage one another, it can be a point of anxiety for someone who does not know the language and structure of speech as others do (such as ESL students as mentioned previously here). Thanks for you comment!
DeleteKLM and JaiMenon,
DeleteWhile Wikipedia may not be the most reliable source ever written, it is a great place to start researching a topic. It's easy to find, easy to read and provides sources (and links) that can be further researched. Quoting from Wikipedia may not be the best idea but it offers a springboard to find more reputable sources. There were several times during my undergrad years when I used Wikipedia as my initial "search engine" to help me find more credible sources.
To echo the others above, thanks for finding and sharing the interview! It's great to get to hear from the author(s) of our readings in a different format.
ReplyDelete