Steve WheelerSteve WheelerUniversity of Plymouth, UKUniversity of Plymouth, UK

Dawn WheelerDawn WheelerSaltash.Net SchoolSaltash.Net School

www2.plymouth.ac.uk/distancelearning

Wiki Activities: Wiki Activities: Five Steps ForwardFive Steps Forward

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Wiki activities – 5 stages(Wheeler, 2007)

Exploration

Exhibition

Explanation

Elaboration

Evaluation

Wiki activities – 5 stages

Exploration orientation, basic principles, making initial contact

Wiki activities – 5 stages

Exhibition show and tell, share ideas, post links to resources

Wiki activities – 5 stages

Explanation simple posting & editing, informing and describing

Wiki activities – 5 stages

Elaboration collaboration in posting, dialogue and complex edits

Wiki activities – 5 stages

Evaluation assess value, accuracy &significance of content

Wiki activities – 5 stages

Exploration

Exhibition

Explanation

Elaboration

Evaluation

orientation, basic principles, making initial contact

show and tell, share ideas, post links to resources

simple posting & editing, informing and describing

collaboration in posting, dialogue and complex edits

assess value, accuracy &significance of content

Deeper Cognitive Engagem

ent

Wiki activities – 5 stages

Exploration

Exhibition

Explanation

Elaboration

EvaluationSocialAcademic

Technical/Practical

Wiki Activities

Establishing ‘wikiquette’Establishing ‘wikiquette’

All about me

All about me

Barriers to learning

Barriers to learning

Gold miningGold

mining

Key message

Key message

Mr Average

Mr Average

In the News!In the News!

To err is humanTo err is human

What’s in a Name?What’s in a Name?

Your Starter for

10…

Your Starter for

10…Measuring up(Evaluation)

Measuring up(Evaluation)

Supporting students with

learning difficulties

Supporting students with

learning difficulties

Live Wiki Example

The Research

• 240 PCET students• 17 Tutors• 14 Cohorts across S.W. England• 4 methods of data gathering:

• User generated content analysis• Threaded discussion post analysis• Online Questionnaire *• Likert Scale paper based Questionnaire

What do you think are the key benefits of the wiki?

The main benefit is definitely the immediacy and interactivity and the

possibility of sharing and solving problems with an online support group. (FE)

Vast amount of people on the wiki sites that can

help you find that important information.

(ML)

It provides an interactive forum where questions can be asked

and answered both by students and tutors. (ML)

The wiki has helped to develop new IT skills and encourage the

group to interact more. (PR)

The final thing I would like to say is the wiki encourages others on our course to communicate to each other and in a way that you wouldn't do in

email. (HE)

ML = MilitaryPR = PrisonFE = Further EdHE = Higher Ed

What do you consider to be the main limitations of the wiki?

No way of knowing if someone else is on the Wiki other than

checking the recent changes (PR)

…. I find the Wiki too complicated it's easier to just search on the

internet to find what you want and it's quicker. (PR)

I did struggle with the wiki initially e.g. trying to set up links and setting up new

pages but I found with a bit of patience and perseverance I was able to do it in the end. Reading the instructions in the first place

helps!!! (HE)

…waiting for a response. Not everyone logs on regularly for various

different reasons mostly very valid ones. (ML)

Any other comments?

As a tool for meeting core elements of an educational training course I see this

as a valuable tool. (PR)

The main problem I had was logging on, then apparently

erasing someone’s work accidently (not proven). Since

then I have learnt how to: make links, post messages, add pictures and make better use of the web

space information. (ML)

If more people use (the) wiki then discussions are likely to be posted

more frequently. (ML)

You are relying on everyone to use it regularly to get the full benefit so users have to be engaged with it in

some way. (HE)

I think the greatest benefit would be when we've left the course and can't use

the student portal, it would be good to catch up with

each other. (HE)

Steve WheelerSteve WheelerFaculty of Education, University of Plymouth, UKFaculty of Education, University of Plymouth, UK

swheeler@plymouth.ac.uk

www2.plymouth.ac.uk/distancelearninghttp://steve-wheeler.blogspot.com

Thank YouThank You

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