After you have completed the wiki activity, take a few minutes to consider how the group collaboration and discussion within the wiki space differed from what you are accustomed to in a standard threaded discussion space (like the one we’ve been using throughout the course in WebCT Vista). What kinds of advantages do you see in using for group collaboration? What are some of the challenges of working with others in a collaborative wiki space?
Among a community of learners, wikis play a role in collaborating ideas and discussions under one space. Within this space, learners may feel a sense of contribution, belonging, and even accomplishment. Wikis can allow learners to feed off each other, bounce thoughts off each other, etc. – however, the emotional connection that only face-to-face interaction (f2f) is obviously absent – which to some learners is essential and crucial to their learning experience.
While discussion forums are set up as read-only environments, wikis allow learners/contributors to edit each other’s post. As mentioned, both have f2f access absent but the convenience factor of communicating in an asynchronous manner appeals to some. Both discussion forums and wikis ask for username and password in order to contribute; thus, providing a sense of security for the class. Moreover, when reading discussion forums or wikis, both are accessed in a similar organizational manner where a table of contents (wiki) and a list of topics (discussion forums) are utilized.
Both forms of social media lead to the fact that learners/contributors form and create a sense of oneness in learning. However, this online environment is not suited for everyone as some may be accustomed to synchronous f2f meetings in their learning. Ultimately, whatever meeting style, learning is taking place either through social media (online) or in person (f2f).
Advantages of group collaboration:
- Everyone has a voice
- Drawing from other’s knowledge and/or experiences
- Everyone is on the same playing field
- Revisions can be made and everyone can see them
- Concluding and summarizing ideas and thoughts as a group
- Everyone is given time to reflect/deeply think about what s/he wants to contribute before posting
Challenges of working with others in a collaborative space:
- Not knowing the personalities of one another within the group
- Coming to a final conclusion/draft/product
- Making sure everybody contributes equally
- Depending the size of the group, time to read each post/contribution
- Accessing social media as some may not have the resources or can not gain authorization
- Keeping focused on the assigned task/discussion – as different tangents may occur