Experience IT:Using Wikis to Enhance Collaboration

Experience IT:Using Wikis to Enhance Collaboration

Presented by

• Dr. Karen Swenson• Amber D. Evans• M. Aaron Bond

January 14, 20119:30 – 10:15 AM

TopicsTopics

• Designing the Course• Student Survey Data• What are Wikis?• VT SciFi Wiki• Using Wikis – Your turn!• Questions & Answers

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Designing the CourseDesigning the Course

Dr. Karen Swenson

Designing the CourseDesigning the Course

• Context: Face-to-Face / Hybrid / Online

• Audience, Content, and Context• Who are you

instructing?• What are you

teaching?• Where & How are

students learning?

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Designing the CourseDesigning the Course

• Paradigms and Pedagogy• Behavorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism?• Seven Principles for Good Practice in

Undergraduate Education (Chickering & Gamson, 1987)

• Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge - Seven Principles for Cultivating Communities of Practice (Wenger, McDermott, & Snyder, 2002)

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English 1654: Introduction to Science Fiction and FantasyEnglish 1654: Introduction to Science Fiction and Fantasy

• Online• 80 Students

• 15 weeks

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English 1654: Introduction to Science Fiction and FantasyEnglish 1654: Introduction to Science Fiction and Fantasy• Students think about

important issues presented through works of speculative fiction –• definitions of good and

evil,• self and alien,

• science and nature, • human and machine, • human and monster, • exploitation and

collaboration.

• Students consider:• definitions of human

experience and potential,

• Demonstrate knowledge through weekly quizzes.

• Students share ideas in a discussion forum & a speculative fiction wiki.

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Learning Objectives and Course Goals (Platonic)Learning Objectives and Course Goals (Platonic)

Through collaborative work, we will

•reconsider traditional concepts of "author" and of "self,"

•suggest collaborative means of living with others,

•learn to work together to create a better world,

•encourage a sense of community,

•encourage an awareness of the contributions of others,

•become more accustomed to considering ourselves within a context.

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Student Survey DataStudent Survey Data

Amber D. Evans

DemographicsDemographics

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DemographicsDemographics

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Prior to this course how often did you contribute content to Wikis (Wikipedia, course wiki, etc.) for school, work, or recreation?

Prior to this course how often did you contribute content to Wikis (Wikipedia, course wiki, etc.) for school, work, or recreation?

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What is your opinion about the following statement: I get more actively involved in courses that use information technology?

What is your opinion about the following statement: I get more actively involved in courses that use information technology?

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What is your opinion about the following statement: The use of IT in my courses improves my learning.

What is your opinion about the following statement: The use of IT in my courses improves my learning.

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What is your opinion about the following statement: IT makes doing my course activities more convenient?

What is your opinion about the following statement: IT makes doing my course activities more convenient?

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Which of the following best describes you?Which of the following best describes you?

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I learn best through: (choose all that apply)I learn best through: (choose all that apply)

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I like to learn through contributing to websites, blogs, wikis, etc.I like to learn through contributing to websites, blogs, wikis, etc.

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What are Wikis?What are Wikis?

Amber D. Evans

What are Wikis?What are Wikis?

It is a powerful yet flexible collaborative communication tool for developing content-specific Web sites.

•A wiki is a Web page that can be viewed and modified by anybody with a Web browser and access to the Internet.•Popular Wikis include• Wikipedia, Wikibooks, Wikihow

•Many “flavors” of wikis available:• Which Wiki is Right for You? (A matrix)

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How does it Work?How does it Work?

View & Edit changes while retaining the previous copy.

•Wikis use• computer scripting (programming)• text files• Web browser• Internet connection

•Edit a page• Sends a request to the server for the wiki page text.

•Save a page• Sends the revised text to the server and saves “an old

copy” as a previous revision.21

Why are Wikis Significant?Why are Wikis Significant?

A content-focused approach makes it easy to collaborate and then export it to different formats.

•Access the current document anytime online.•Add new pages or change existing pages.•No HTML or coding is required.•Compare previous versions.•Identify who contributed content.•Export the wiki page to Microsoft Word or PDF.

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When to use WikisWhen to use Wikis

• Features:• Easy online editing by users.• Revision history.• Notification of changes.• Export options (MS Word, HTML, PDF, etc.)

• Uses:• To capture and record process and procedures.• Meeting minutes that anyone can add to.• Brainstorming

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How can Wikis be Used in Teaching and Learning?How can Wikis be Used in Teaching and Learning?Wikis are reflexive & adaptive, growing with use.

•Easiest and most effective collaboration tool.•Versioning shows

• Evolution of thought & contents• Authorship & ownership

•Can be used to • Create ePortfolios, • Collaborate on (research) projects, • Edit articles or textbooks,• Recording process and procedures,

•Do anything you can imagine!

Some Challenges of WikisSome Challenges of Wikis

Wikis open windows to collaboration, but sometimes flies get in.

•Wikis may require monitoring.•May need to gain authorization to edit a wiki.•Learning curve (new toolbars, new tools)•Lack of some features (i.e., Word Count)•Content-focused not cosmetic.•Hierarchy doesn’t exist (like a concept map)•Collective group bias.•Remembering to use it!

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The SciFi WikiThe SciFi Wiki

Dr. Karen Swenson

“Student writing has meaning, power, and significance in this course.

Students are shaping both their own words and the words of others in order to create a web of interconnected writings.”

“Wiki Aliveness”“Wiki Aliveness”

1. Design for evolution.2. Open a dialogue between inside and outside

perspectives.3. Invite different levels of participation.4. Develop both public and private community

spaces.5. Focus on value.6. Combine familiarity and excitement.7. Create a rhythm for the community.

Etienne Wenger, Richard McDermott, and William M. Snyder http://hbswk.hbs.edu/archive/2855.html

A Wiki will allow us to:• interact with each other in a useful and

interesting way,• share our knowledge and expertise with

others,• experience a new form of writing and a

new definition of “authorship” made possible by technology,

• participate in a collaborative enterprise.• learn from each other, and• have fun together!

Wiki Pages – Creating InfrastructureWiki Pages – Creating Infrastructure

Wiki Pages – Hypertext Essays, Images, WordsWiki Pages – Hypertext Essays, Images, Words

Wiki Pages – History of CollaborationWiki Pages – History of Collaboration

Wiki DevelopmentWiki DevelopmentThe success of this course wiki led to the creation of a community wiki – the Virginia Tech Speculative Fiction wiki, around which is growing a community of practice beyond the boundaries of the semester.

“Play Well and Prosper”

Join VTSF Worlds - a Speculative Fiction Community!Join VTSF Worlds - a Speculative Fiction Community!• http://learn.vt.edu/• Username: Your

email address• Check your email for

the password• Look in junk/spam

folder

• Raise hand for assistance.

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Closing Comments from StudentsClosing Comments from Students“Class was really great. Professor Swenson made Science Fiction fun and relevant for me and turned me into a reader.”

“Great class, enjoyable and fun thanks for a great year!”

“Professor Swenson is the best!”

“Class structure was awesome.  Great mix of tests, forums, wikis, and final project. Class was one of the most fun I've taken … Swenson is a great teacher though, and her assistant Yakima was VERY helpful. This course covered more material than any class I've ever taken, but ran more smoothly than most. Overall a positive experience.”

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Thank YouThank You

Collaborative work allows us to:•reconsider traditional concepts of "author" and of "self,” •suggest collaborative means of living with others, •learn to work together to create a better world,•encourage a sense of community, •encourage an awareness of the contributions of others,•become more accustomed to considering ourselves within a context.

Karen Swenson•karens@vt.edu•Associate Professor of English•Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA 24061

Amber D. Evans•adevans@vt.edu•IDT Ph. D. Candidate•Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA 24061

M. Aaron Bond•mabond@vt.edu•Virginia Tech•Blacksburg, VA 24061