Wiki Reflections

I’ve enjoyed working on this wiki with our classmates to discuss our experiences and ideas regarding social media in education. I appreciate how everyone is in control of a wiki, and how the structure and contribution of ideas can change at any given time. I have my own vision of how ideas should be flushed out, with my own structure and flow, but this activity forced me to work within the structure of a group. I don’t think the wiki is the most effective choice for ongoing discussion of topics, but I like using this tool for generating collective ideas like we did with the five barriers and challenges.

I actually prefer the social media tool of Google Docs over a wiki for this type of collaboration. I find the platform of a Google Doc more visual and easier to use, and the discussion (chat) platform of the document is more of a true chat, where you can engage in synchronous discussion with your partner(s). I find the editing features of the Google Doc superior as well including the revision history tool and the ability to add asynchronous discussion when you have edited the document.

Regardless of my preferences, I think wikis and collaborative social media tools are excellent for developing a technology enhanced learning environment (TELE). They provide users with ability to synchronously collaborate on projects and ideas, and they are excellent for giving and receiving descriptive feedback. It is much easier to utilize formative assessment instruction in a TELE when you have access to these social media tools.

Cheers,

Stephen 🙂