Before I start writing about wiki I must agree that even
though I knew that anyone can edit Wikipedia, I was completely ignorant about
the concept behind wiki.
So as I understand now is that wiki is a website/ technology
that lets the user to edit the content easily and quickly, directly in the
browser window. It is so easy and does not require user to have the knowledge
of coding. I think that this a good example of distributed cognition, which
allows us to use the interface that has been developed by someone else. I would
also like to mention that WikiWikiWeb was the first wiki software and was
published by Ward Cunningham.
The wiki engines are the software on which a wiki runs. These
wiki engines are type of content management system or open sources. Another important
thing about wiki is that the content can be developed by anyone and yet not be
the owner or the leader of the page, unlike the blog. Sometimes though some
restrictions can be placed on wiki like editing rights. The most commonly used
and popular wiki is the Wikipedia.
Writing about the affordance of wiki, I think the most
important affordance is that it is editable
by anyone browsing the page, sometimes though some restrictions can be placed. The
ease with which people can edit makes is very user friendly. The ability that
text in the content can be linked is
another important affordance of wiki. This allows user to add more to the
content of the original page without modifying it. I have also learned an
important aspect of wiki and it is that any person making changes in the
content can be tracked by the IP
number.
In terms of what content can I teach using wiki, even though
the ideas are limitless let me describe one. Since I intend to integrate
biology curriculum with social issues so that students can make connection
between classroom and real world, thus preparing biology majors to take social
responsibility in the future, I can start a wiki addressing one social problem
and ask students to edit and communicate their thoughts and information on
that. Students can link videos or articles related to the topic. Since in wiki
content texts are mark able it would allow other students to easily view the
link and read the updates.
I think Vygotsky’s social learning theory best apply to wiki
as wiki allows fine-tune communication and collaborations among students thus
increasing their social learning situation. Today with the increase in globalization
we communicate with people from different culture and community, and wiki is
best way to collaborate. In academics’ wiki provides Cooperative and collaborative
learning environment.
