Classroom Tools - Wikis

Using wikis in the classroom necessarily presumes collaboration among students and gives them a genuine opportunity to publish and share information they regard as important (Teehan, 2010). Collaboration can be understood as the process of bringing people (i.e. students) together to share and create ideas. Wikis are the instruments that can make that happen. Also, the act of publishing and sharing information online ushers students from the role of recipient to contributor by exposing their ideas to a worldwide audience. Therefore, their work becomes a “real-world, noteworthy, and grown-up endeavor” (Teehan, 2010, p. 49).

Pedagogically, learning becomes relevant to them motivates further learning of a given subject matter being studied. Also, wikis give students a natural outlet for creativity and promotes their connections with other students. Furthermore, students engage in the higher-level thinking skills of analysis and synthesis of information.

It is important to mention that although scholarly research supporting the benefits of using wikis in educational settings is insufficient, that lack of evidence is not evidence that wikis do not work (Teehan, 2010). What it does indicate is that more research is needed (Teehan, 2010). In support of using wikis in educational settings, Teehan (2010) aptly asserts, “Wikis will not guarantee perfection, but they do promise participation in the learning process” (p. 45). I agree.

Furthermore, wikis are easily accessible for students. Sites such as wikispaces.com make wikis available to students absolutely free. Of course, this assumes that students have access to a computer and a high speed internet connection, which all students do not have. However, most schools and districts have computer labs available for students. So, with proper planning, the use of wikis can be incorporated into course curriculum.