Blogs and wikis for the classroom....

I keep hearing the buzz amongst teachers about blogs and wikis.  Some love them, many don't know what they are and most are adamant that it's just something else they're supposed to learn about but don't have the time. I'll use this post to explain what they are - and hopefully, how they could potentially be used in the K-12 environment.

A Blog - short for weblog - is very basically an interactive journal stored on the internet.  It is accessible by anyone who has the link, or who can search for it..  The writer posts a new note often (or not) and these are archived. The author can upload videos, pictures and even multi-media presentations in addition to text.    People reading the blog can comment on it, and everyone can read the comments.  Readers can also search for specific topics.  The writer of the blog can "moderate" the blog, which means that any comments go first to the writer for approval.  The writer can also allow any comments to be made with no moderation.


Wiki- most of us are familiar with the term "wikipedia" - this is an encylopedia that is created and edited by anyone who wishes to add to it.   The term "wiki" is simply an interactive website where those who are designated as "editors" have the right to add to or change the content.  The wiki creator has the ability to decide who can join - it can be everyone, or it can be a limited few.  The editor can also decide who can view the wiki and who cannot.  It is possible to allow a few people to be editors, and yet still have the site be available to the general public.

So -why the buzz in education?   After all, our students already write journals and essays in school.  How does writing them online actually improve education?  I just read an interesting book called "Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and other powerful webtools for classroom" by Will Richardson.  I read the 2nd Edition copyright 2009) on my kindle, but there is a more recent version available from Amazon. 

Richardson discusses a wide variety of possibilities for use of the blog and the wiki.  Of course, our students are often asked to keep "reflective" journals in today's classrooms.  As a teacher, I wondered how a blog can be an improvement on the old fashioned paper journal.  I can see the  initial advantages... Students enjoy computers and writing on the computer is more fun ... Students love spell check - and as a teacher, I'd rather read a typed paper than a handwritten one... I spend a lot of time grading... and reading handwriting in a world where neat handwriting is not highly prized, takes time and patience.   I also have to admit that the idea of logging on to evaluate a blog seems so much easier than lugging home all of those papers.  I always had my students write their reflective journals in a composition book - so that they could see their own improvement over the year.... but  grading was time consuming - and with an average of 130 students, too much to take home to grade.   But, are there any other advantages?    According to Richardson, a blog should not simply be a digitized version of the written journal if the students are to gain the most benefit from the conversation that can be created with the readers of the blog.  Why use a blog?  Students of the 21st century will be exposed to all sorts of technology outside the school - so why not teach them the rules of appropriate use in school?

When a student writes a journal in the classroom - it will probably only be read by the teacher... Richardson (2009) points out hat when a student writes on line, the possibility for interaction with other students in class, and in other classrooms across town and even across the world, exists.   When students interact with other students, they are engaged and enjoy their work. A classroom of students in a school in England could read a book at the same time and share their opinions easily with an American class.  Imagine reading about the American Revolution and sharing that with a group of students from the UK via a blog....   Students can also share work with their parents at home - and even get parental comments on the work completed.  What if students wrote a class blog about a book and the author made comments on their interpretation?    As Richardson points out, the possibilities are endless.

Blogs are also useful for teachers....  A class blog can keep the parents (and administrators) up to date with what is going on the classroom and allow for interaction.   Suddenly, asking for volunteers for field trips becomes a little easier.  Richardson also suggests that a teacher can start with a class blog - where the posts are teacher written, but comments made by each of the students.   This also opens the possibility for students to comment on other student's writing/opinions without having each student create their own blog.

Disadvantages:  Many school districts are beginning to embrace the use of web 2.0 technology but if you are the first in your school, you may have to fight through some administrative red tape.  Richardson points out that the most important thing is to ensure that you have parental and administrative permission and to ensure that your students are taught the basics of web safety before you even get started.

Wikis:   These can be set up by the teacher and allow the students to work in groups.... Designated editors can be the group members.  They can easily add to the content and discuss their work - and of course, all edits can be viewed, making it much easier to see who added what.... A huge improvement on traditional group work in the classroom.   This type of work also makes it easier to use a smaller number of computers in the classroom.

Wikis for teachers:   This is a great way to plan lessons communally.    Teachers rarely have planning time together and allowing everyone on the team to add asynchronously will make planning easier.  It also allows the ESL teacher and Special Ed teacher to assist with  specific modifications... and best of all, the lesson plan is stored and can be added to each year...or downloaded by the principal in an emergency for use by a sub.

This post has just barely touched the surface of how to use blogs and wikis in the classroom.  I would recommend reading Richardson's book - it's packed with great ideas... and workable ideas from a real teacher...

So - how does this all transfer to the online classroom?    Or does it?
Whether you are teaching online or in the physical classroom - student interaction and engagement is vital to learning.  Creating an online sense of community is important for students. (Collison et al.  2000 p.2) point out that the ability to reflect at the students convenience encourages  more thoughtful interaction.)  Working together on a project as a group using a wiki should encourage the same interaction.   A blog allows the DE student to reflect on what has been studied in the class, and to connect it to his or her own life and background.  The constructivist theory  of education (Piaget, Bruner and Vygotsky) and the socialist constructivist theories encourage the sharing and discussion of information to enable/encourage learning.   both wikis and blogs have a relevant place in the classrooms of today.

References: 
Collison, George  et. al., Facilitating Online Learning:  Effective Strategies for Moderators.  Atwood Publishing, 2000.

Richardson, Will., Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and other Powerful Webtools for Classrooms, 2nd Ed. Corwin Press, 2009