Wikis and Blogs

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Wikis and Blogs

• Dr Laura Boubert

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Wikis

• A wiki is a website designed to allow multiple
  authors to add, remove, and edit content. The
  multiple author capability of wikis makes them
  effective tools for mass collaborative authoring.
  Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, is one of the
  best known wikis.
• Wikipedia

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Blogs

• A blog (from web log) is a website where
  entries are written in chronological order and
  displayed in reverse chronological order. "Blog"
  can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain
  or add content to a blog.
• Wikipedia

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What for?

• Wikis
• Distance and remote collaboration
• Creation of a truly collaborative piece of work
• Can form the coursework itself
• Can be offered as a tool to prepare cwk
• Many of the net-gen are familiar with the
  technology
• Can be used to put together any form of website
  (e.g. e-portfolio)

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What for?

• Blogs
• Reflection
• Discussion
• Dialogue with tutor or project supervisor
• Lab book
• Placement log book

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Example

• First year Cognitive Science group coursework
• Design a questionnaire
• Perform simple item analysis
• Use a group wiki to present your work
• Keep a personal blog to reflect on
• Group work
• The project

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Blackboard entry into module wikis
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Example of student home page
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Example of student wiki home page
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Example of student questionnaire
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Example of student participation tracking
facility in Blackboard
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University of Westminster
Example of student blog
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Conclusion

• Students loved it!
• Develops new skills
• Provides alternative for group work
• Students still met up
• Easy to assess
• Can monitor student progress
• Can monitor student participation
• Should be treated as new medium