In my previous learning experiences, the familiarity
of Wikis and Collaborative learning was at a bare minimum. Not once had any of
my past educators incorporated these facilities into my learning experiences. Coming into the lectures and tutorials
of these topics I was very unaware, due to my lack of knowledge, of what Wikis
were and the benefits that Wikis and Collaborative learning can provide for
students.
Maloy (2011) states that wikis are websites or blogspaces in which a group of
people collaboratively edit and maintain. Its functionality entitles
individuals and/or groups to edit the same web spaces, visit,
read, re-organise
and update the pages structure or content. It is due to this design that Wikis enable collective
writing and editing, and overall enhance high levels of collaboration and
interaction among students.
Upon reading Transforming Learning with New Technologies by Maloy (2011) it is evident how and why wikis and collaborative learning technologies have attained such positive reception. From using technology in meaningful ways, to synthesizing and explaining the content learnt through written and different multimedia expressions, to the enabling of publishing these works and receiving feedback about students work both inside and outside the classroom, it is clear as to how wikis and collaborative learning can be used effectively and productively in the learning environment to increase student outcomes and incorporate engaging teaching strategies.
Aside from Wikis, other collaborative learning mediums include
social-networking sites (i.e. Facebook, Twitter), Blogs, WebQuests and Discovery
Missions. All are examples of how Web 2.0 can be used, and provides the
familiarization of Web 2.0, a necessary consolidation skill needed across all
disciplines commencing secondary schooling (Howell, 2012). With the purpose of
collaborative learning to promote students to work together in questioning
processes, making mistakes and overseeing each others reasoning, it is clear
that the use of Web 2.0, despite being partial to negative reviews,
considerably encompasses the basic functionality required to base these
collaborative learning environments upon. Ultimately Web 2.0 is the way of the
future, with pros being its currency, popularity, teaching students how to use
social networking sites responsibly, and the automatic engagement students will
have towards it. Web 2.0 provides the knowledge students will need when being
employed in the work field.
Reflecting upon my own
schooling experience I recognise how the incorporation of Wikis and
Collaborative learning could have benefitted my own learning experiences and
increase my overall educational outcome. However at that time Web 2.0 and more
specifically social-networking medias were still a new experience to all and
weren’t considered as a safe learning environment. Howell (2012) states that in
order to use these forums, they should be done so in safe and secure
environments. Websites such as EduBlog would be one to fit this criterion,
consequently alleviating any concerns had by parents and the community. It
wasn’t until reading O’Shea (2013) and Howell (2012) articles that I believed
the lack of knowledge and in some cases the fear of capably using these
technologies appropriately on behalf of teachers may be difficult to overcome,
especially in my case where teachers weren’t aware of Web 2.0 educational
purposes. It was through participating and collaborating effectively with my
peers in the Discovery Mission set in my tutorial, that I was able to
experience first hand the outcomes and benefits my students would receive if I
incorporated these learning experiences in my own teaching. As this process
wasn’t as stressful as perceived, I believe this showcased how easy it can be
for teachers to adopt these new technologies and incorporate them into their
own learning environment. Nevertheless even after reading the articles and
attending the lectures and workshops I still believe, considering the digital
age we live in today, that blogs, wikis or more specifically social-networking
forums aren’t a secure and safe enough learning environment for students, unless
of course it is to be facilitated through something alike to Blackboard or
EduBlog, with the permission of parents and school administration.References
Howell, J. (2012). Teaching with ICT: Digital Pedagogies for
Collaborating and Creativity. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Maloy,
R.W., Verock- O’Loughlin, R., Edwards, S.A., & Woolf, B.P. (2011).
Transferring learning with new technologies (MyEducation Kit). Communicating and Networking with websites,
blogs, and more. (pp. 206-239). New Jersey: Person.
O'Shea,
P. & Kidd, J. (2013). DiscoveryMissions: An Educational Tool for Web 2.0.
In R. McBride & M. Searson (Eds.), Proceedings
of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International
Conference 2013 (pp. 4008-4012). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.
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