Reflective Synopsis on eLearning: Wikis
A wiki is an online space where any user can edit, modify, add and remove information (Cosstick, 2010). Wikis can be used in a classroom in a number of ways to facilitate learning. Most commonly, they can be used for group communication, collaboration and presentation of a variety of projects. A wiki is largely a tool of the constructivism learning theory (Vygotsky, 1962 ). This is because it promotes a more open ended learning experience and allows for much group collaboration.
Constructivism acknowledges that students each approach learning from a different perspective. This perspective is formed from a unique set of life experiences and sets the foundation of their learning. Learning occurs when a student’s individual prior understanding evolves with the acquisition of new information. A wiki helps to facilitate this kind of learning as students can take their individual knowledge and perspective, and contribute this within a group. Within a wiki, students can research and collaborate with each other, in order to shape each other’s understanding and thereby gain a deeper meaning overall.
Wikis also allow for students to produce a multimodal piece of work as they can upload images, animation, videos, sound and music to their wiki. According to research conducted by Cisco Systems (2008), “In general, multimodal learning has been shown to be more effective than traditional, unimodal learning. Adding visuals to verbal (text and/or auditory) learning can result in significant gains in basic and higher-order learning.”
Because a wiki can be so intensively multimodal, it can support most, if not all, of Howard Gardner’s eight multiple intelligences (1983; 1993). These are social, self, verbal, visual, musical, body, logical and natural. For example: students can upload a video of themselves planting and talking about a school vegetable garden (natural), a line graph of survey results (logical) or a personal reflection (self).
Constructivism acknowledges that students each approach learning from a different perspective. This perspective is formed from a unique set of life experiences and sets the foundation of their learning. Learning occurs when a student’s individual prior understanding evolves with the acquisition of new information. A wiki helps to facilitate this kind of learning as students can take their individual knowledge and perspective, and contribute this within a group. Within a wiki, students can research and collaborate with each other, in order to shape each other’s understanding and thereby gain a deeper meaning overall.
Wikis also allow for students to produce a multimodal piece of work as they can upload images, animation, videos, sound and music to their wiki. According to research conducted by Cisco Systems (2008), “In general, multimodal learning has been shown to be more effective than traditional, unimodal learning. Adding visuals to verbal (text and/or auditory) learning can result in significant gains in basic and higher-order learning.”
Because a wiki can be so intensively multimodal, it can support most, if not all, of Howard Gardner’s eight multiple intelligences (1983; 1993). These are social, self, verbal, visual, musical, body, logical and natural. For example: students can upload a video of themselves planting and talking about a school vegetable garden (natural), a line graph of survey results (logical) or a personal reflection (self).
