2. Wikis and collaborative learning

Collaborative learning occurs when students work individually on different parts of a group problem and discover key concepts and information together. The different parts of the problem are then collaborated together form a solution. Learners build on each other’s contributions to form a deeper understanding of a complex problem. (Maloy, Verock-O’Loughlin, Edwards & Woolf, 2011)

In a study where college students participated in a test on a subject that no participants had a formal education of the topic one group participated in collaborative studying techniques and the other studied individually Gokhale (1995) found that collaborative learning does enhance critical thinking; which agrees with many learning theories such as Vygotsky and Burner. (Gokhale, 1995)

I believe that wiki’s are a great way for students to collaborate their work. A wiki is a web space that has multiple authors; anyone can contribute and change what others have written. Wiki technology allows authors to see who wrote sections of text as well as parts that have been deleted or edited. In a school collaboration setting, the students are the authors and the teacher acts as a monitor, ensuring that each student is putting in the same effort into the problem and keeping them on the right track. (Maloy et al, 2011). Learning is achieved because students can see how text can become more focused and clear as it is edited and teachers can monitor which students are adding to and editing the text almost instantly after it is posted online. It is this instant response to their work that keeps students interested. (Maloy et al, 2011) 

Collaborative learning can also occur without the use of wiki’s, as shown in the following video. Students work in groups and ask each other questions to build on each other’s knowledge. With the addition of the internet and wiki’s the collaboration is no longer restricted to the classroom and face to face contact with peers and also brings students outside lives into the classroom. (Maloy et al, 2011)

Maloy et al (2011) state many different web spaces that can be used in the classroom including: blogs, instant messaging, school websites, email and social networking with the benefits and disadvantages of using them in the school environment. Maloy et al (2011) also suggest that a wiki is the most advantageous web space to use in a school environment; they have broad uses, moderation capabilities and the instant satisfaction of quick responses.  The uses suggested include homework tasks, group discussion boards, group assignments incorporating collaborative learning and teacher parent communications. (Maloy et al, 2011)  

I believe that incorporating wikis and collaborative learning into the classroom will benefit most students and learning styles as it incorporates their outside interests and allows them to contribute to a discussion in a less intimidating environment, students have time to think about their responses and form articulate opinions.

References

Maloy, M., Verock –O’Loughlin, R., Edwards, S. & Woolf, B. (2001). Communicating and Networking with Websites, Blogs, Wikis and More. In Canton, K., Kriener, M. & Nelson, A. (Eds.), Transforming Learning with New Technologies, (pp. 206-239). United States of America: Pearson

Gokhale, A. (1995). Collaborative Learning Enhance Critical Thinking. Journal of Technology Education, 7(1). Retrieved from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JTE/v7n1/gokhale.jte-v7n1.html?ref=Sawos.Org

edutopia. (2012, December 5). Collaborative Learning Builds Deeper Understanding [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rWEwv_qobpU