Learning about Wiki for Online Collaboration

Wiki's are an online tool for collaborative writing, in which anyone can add content and edit published content. This becomes an idea platform for groups to share and build collaborative projects. This format is much more dynamic than blogs and threaded discussions, because the former two only allow a single person to post and then others to respond to what they wrote. However, with a blog, many people can contribute to a single post by adding and editing. Instructors can track updates and contributions through this format and contribute guidance.
Instructors who chose this learning technology should be prepared to teach as a facilitator; they should create a clear learning goal, provide specific guidance about the expectations for performance and grading, provide thought provoking questions and then just step aside to allow learning to happen organically.
The three approaches for wiki usage in a learning environment are: Knowledge Construction, Critical Thinking. and Contextual Application.
Knowledge Construction: this approach learners acquiring a fundamental understanding of a subject, discipline or a field. Learners have the ability to collect and organize information in a collaborative manner and convert the new information into cognitive structures. Some approaches to Knowledge Construction are;
Resources Banks- students can add and modify information through adding weblinks, MS Word or PowerPoint documents, or create a contact list that other learners can access.
Frequently Asks Questions- instructors or learners post questions about a subject, and learners work together to research and post the answers to the questions.
Error Finding and Correcting- Instructors post a bank of content that can be edited or corrected, and learners will use the wiki function to make the necessary corrections.
Historical Time Lines- allows learners to gain an understanding of historical significance by studying events in relation to other events or current practices. Learners will work together to create a historical time line and post questions or comments about the subject.
Annotated Bibliography- after introducing a subject, students research sources about the subject and post a list of resources with an overview of the source/article.
Open Dialogue- learners can role play or debate an issue.
Group Summary- learners can review course materials and write a summary.
Critical Thinking- this approach promotes reflective decision making and problem solving. Some projects that promote Critical Thinking wikis are;
What if...? Senarios- learners speculate about possible scenarios using their knowledge of the subject and past events.
Case Studies- an exploration of real-world problems that promote situational analysis.
Debates- learners explore opposite sides of an issue and create organized debates.
Collaborative Research Papers- group writing projects in the form of research papers or presentations.
Evaluation or Research Study- learners review research and evaluate source material. Frame-Based Writing- instructors provide a fame of structure for a topic and leaves gaps that students must fill in.
Nominal Group Technique- group decision making methods that allow learners to conduct problem analysis, generation of ideas, group evaluation, and the ranking of probable solutions. Structure Online Critiques- this approach allows learners to evaluate material against a set of established criteria.
Contextual Application- this wiki approach allows students to create and do, not just think about new knowledge. Some activities that can be conducted through a wiki that promotes Contextual Application are;
Event Plan- learners collaborate to arrange the details of a curricular or extra-curricular event.
Process Map- learners work as groups to make a job or process more efficient.
Virtual Science Lab- students can follow traditional scientific methods and share their experiment data, hypothesis's, and outcomes.
Field Research Project- learners can participate in field study and post their experiences on the wiki so that others can learn from their knowledge.
Story Creation- learners work together to brainstorm, outline, and write stories.
Team Challenge- learners must work together to tackle a real world issue, or have groups compete.
Media Design Project- groups work together to design a solution for a need.
Service Learning Project- learners collaborate to create a wiki that provides the world with information about a notable and important subject.

Wikis are so much more than a website to house encyclopedias, they are a valuable learning platform that instructors can use to promote collaborative learning (West & West, 2010).

Resource:
West, J. & West, M. (2010) Using Wikis for Online Collaboration. San Francisco: Jossy-Bass