Using Wikis for Online Collaboration

THE AUTHORS James A. West is an associate professor in the Department of Instructional Design and Technology, Western Illinois University. He has conducted extensive research in both graduate and undergraduate courses using wikis and Web 2.0. Margaret L. West is the IT systems manager for the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Research at Western Illinois University. Her twenty-five-year career has included work in higher education, K–12, and the private sector.

• Preface xiiiAbout the Authors xviiONE Getting Ready to Wiki 1Opportunities for Online Learning 2What Is a Wiki? 3Types of Wikis 6Choosing the Right Wiki 9Features of Wikis 10Setting Up the Wiki 17Summary 19TWO Designing Wiki Projects for Collaborative Learning 21Teaching and Learning Through Wikis 21Laying the Foundation—Preparing Students for Wiki Work 22Building the Framework—Designing the Wiki Project 31Monitoring Construction—Managing the Wiki Process 45Summary 57THREE Wiki Projects for Knowledge Construction 59Resource Bank 60Frequently Asked Questions 62Error Finding and Correcting 64Historical Time Line 66Annotated Bibliography 69Online Dialogue 72Group Summary 73Class Encyclopedia 74Summary 77FOUR Wiki Projects for Critical Thinking 79“What If . . . ?” Scenarios 80Case Studies 82Debates 85Collaborative Research Papers 88Evaluation or Research Study 90Frame-Based Writing 93Nominal Group Technique 95Structured Online Critiques 98Summary 100FIVE Wiki Projects for Contextual Application 101Event Plan 102Process Map 104Virtual Science Lab 109Field Research Project 112Story Creation 114Team Challenge 115Media Design Project 118Service Learning Project 121Summary 123SIX Wikis Today and Tomorrow 125The Value of Collaborative Writing 125Integrating Wikis with Other Technologies 126What the Future Holds 126An Invitation to Collaborate 128ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 129Wikis for Educators 129Web 2.0 129Collaborative Writing 130Scaffolding 130Bloom’s Taxonomy 130References 131Index 135