After reading Richardson’s chapter on Wikis in the classroom, I’m definitely thinking it can be put to good use. I love the book study example he gave. It has such potential for positive student creativity and involvement. It really gets the students involved with the editing and fact checking process. I like how Richardson mentions that “giving students editorial control can imbue in them a sense of responsibility and ownership for the site and minimize the risk of someone adding something offensive” (61).
Richardson’s point that Wikipedia is in essence a written research paper that can easily be accessed by students to repeat a report that has already been written is a very valid point. I think the way around this is to create paper topics that are specific and individual instead of really broad like Richardson’s example of Argentina.
One of the great things about wikis is their “public” nature (though they can be made semi-private if a teacher desires). This puts the burden of social expectation on students–their work will be seen by others. Many will find this an incentive to create quality stuff, much more so than a traditional paper directed solely at the teacher.
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