Want a quick, easy, attractive, and secure way to interactively communicate with your class? Move over email, long live the Wiki!
Based on the knowledge you are reading an educational technology blog, no doubt many of you already host your own wiki which can most simply be described as an interactive, editable webpage.
If you find this definition lacking and would like to learn more about wikis, click here.
If you are ready to take the plunge and host your own class wiki but are unsure where to begin, click here.
Showing posts with label wikipedia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wikipedia. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wikipedia: Information revolutions' evolution
I am in the process of editing a course on educational technology for undergrad teachers. The present syallbus not only warns against using Wikipedia as a source of information, but actually offers bonus points on research assignments for students who do NOT cite Wikipedia.
The concern for educators is legitimate. Basically anyone with internet access can create or edit a post annonymously. Credentials, experience, and expertise become secondary to stubbornous and pure tenacity for spending time in front of a monitor updating a page until your opinion is published.
Wikipedia may be imperfect but it does solve a growing concern in the information age. The existing lag time between information creation and distribution by today's mainstream publishers is unacceptable. In many technology related fields, by the time a manuscript reaches the bookstore shelves the once cutting edge knowledge has been deemed antiquated.
The solution? The evolution of the Wiki.
New Wiki's are being developed by scholars who have come to appreciate the benefits of open source information sharing but wish to maintain the integrity of the information being distributed.
Examples include Citizendium and Scholarpedia.
Every worthwhile technological innovation has undergone an evolutionary process promoting the transition from novelty to practicality.
Instead of criticizing the adolocence of Wikipedia, educators should understand the effort and attention it takes to reach maturity.
To visit Citizendium, click here.
To visit Scholarpedia, click here.
The concern for educators is legitimate. Basically anyone with internet access can create or edit a post annonymously. Credentials, experience, and expertise become secondary to stubbornous and pure tenacity for spending time in front of a monitor updating a page until your opinion is published.
Wikipedia may be imperfect but it does solve a growing concern in the information age. The existing lag time between information creation and distribution by today's mainstream publishers is unacceptable. In many technology related fields, by the time a manuscript reaches the bookstore shelves the once cutting edge knowledge has been deemed antiquated.
The solution? The evolution of the Wiki.
New Wiki's are being developed by scholars who have come to appreciate the benefits of open source information sharing but wish to maintain the integrity of the information being distributed.
Examples include Citizendium and Scholarpedia.
Every worthwhile technological innovation has undergone an evolutionary process promoting the transition from novelty to practicality.
Instead of criticizing the adolocence of Wikipedia, educators should understand the effort and attention it takes to reach maturity.
To visit Citizendium, click here.
To visit Scholarpedia, click here.
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