Web 2.0 Tools: Wikis

During this Distance Education course, I have reviewed several Web 2.0 tools that can be effective for use during distance education.  In this blog post, I will explore the Wiki. 

Scenario:  A new automated staff information system was recently purchased by a major corporation and needs to be implemented in six regional offices. Unfortunately, the staff is located throughout all the different offices and cannot meet at the same time or in the same location. As an instructional designer for the corporation, you have been charged with implementing a training workshop for these offices. As part of the training, you were advised how imperative it is that the staff members share information, in the form of screen captures and documents, and participate in ongoing collaboration.

Possible Solution: The wiki.  Described by Simonson et al (2012) as a space online that can be created and then edited by a group of people, the wiki is an ideal solution.  Staff members would be able to log on to a specifically designed wiki and update required information.   Images and files can be uploaded on a wiki.  A useful feature is that all of the information that is edited is tracked and can be viewed by all members so each can know who updated what and who made what changes.  The administrator (in this case, this can be the instructional designer) will be able to view participation and guide and support the information that is uploaded if needed.

I have used a wiki myself in a previous online course and found it to be very useful for a group project.  Collaboration was fairly simple in this asynchronous learning environment.  We had group members in 3 different countries and were able to produce a full instructional design plan! 

http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/pages/Effective-Wiki-Uses.aspx

In this article, 5 Effective Wiki uses, Mader (2008) also gives great examples of how you might use a wiki in the corporate world.  I particularly liked the suggestion of a company using a wiki to hold their policies.  It’s all about going green nowadays and storing data online is becoming common practice.  Having these documents on a wiki allow for them to be updated and edited as needed, yet they are held in one central location for all to see, versus papers lost in an employee’s office somewhere.

As a future instructional designer, I appreciate the many uses of the wiki and if you haven’t used one yet, it is worth it to try!

References:

Mader, S. (2008). 5 Effective Wiki Uses. Retrieved from: http://www.websitemagazine.com/content/blogs/posts/pages/Effective-Wiki-Uses.aspx

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson

MindMap

There are many different definitions for distance learning.  One of the best I have found is by Simonson et al (2012) who describe these four elements:

Reference: 

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston, MA: Pearson.

Distance Learning: Past, Present & Future

 

Distance learning goes back to before the 1800s and includes learning via the post, the radio and the television. A great time-line that explores this can be found at http://www.edudemic.com/2013/09/the-evolution-of-distance-learning/.

As I began this course, I initially thought of distance learning as learning that occurred in an environment that does not involve your typical 4-wall classroom.  A colleague of mine had obtained her degree through a university in the US, whilst living in the Cayman Islands.  This was over a decade ago and her materials were sent to her via post.  Also living in the Cayman Islands, I am currently pursuing my master’s degree through a university in the US, Walden University.  This is online degree and most materials are available online, with text-books delivered through the post.  As a final example, a friend recently enrolled her high-school aged boys in a cyber-school.  They stay at home and take their classes online. 

Simonson et al (2012) tell us that distance learning should comprise of four main components: separation of teacher and student; sharing of data, voice, and video; interactive telecommunication; and being institutionally based.                  

They explain that with the separation of teacher and student, learning can be asynchronous (learning with peers/instructor occurring at separate times) or synchronous (learning with peers/instructor occurring at the same time).  Telecommunications simply means communicating at a distance and can range from use of a postal system, radio or Internet.  Interactive telecommunications explains that learners, instructors and resources must all be organized in a way that they are connected effectively. Finally, distance education is institutionally based.  This makes distance learning different than self-study.

There are exciting times ahead.  Heutt et al (2008) have a series of articles published where they discuss the trends in distance learning.  They describe the popularity as ‘explosive’ and tell us ‘distance learning is rapidly becoming a popular choice for continuing professional education, mid-career degree programs, and lifelong learning of all kinds’ (p. 66).   They also explore distance education within the K-12 setting, telling us it is more popular within the high school setting. 

As a student of a distance education program, I can see this style of learning becoming more and more popular. I have turned a handful of friends onto this style of learning, friends with families who are unable to attend a typical 4-wall classroom or are not able to relocate to the US for a university degree.   Career changes are now possible as well as career advances through various professional development courses, all through the comfort of your own home. 

As a classroom teacher of young 4 year olds, I look forward to what new technologies will emerge and how distance learning might be introduced into my classroom environment!

 

References:

Huett, J., Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Coleman, C. (2008). The evolution of distance education: Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 3: K12). TechTrends, 52(5). 63-67.

 

Lepi, K. (2013, Sep 1). The Evolution of Distance Learning. Retrieved from Hassing. (2013, Aug 30). Why (And How) Distance Learning Needs To Change. Retrieved from
http://www.edudemic.com/2013/08/why-and-how-distance-learning-needs-to-change/

 

Moller, L., Foshay, W., & Huett, J. (2008b). The evolution of distance education:   Implications for instructional design on the potential of the web (Part 2: Higher education). TechTrends, 52(4), 66-70.

 

Simonson, M., Smaldino, S., Albright, M., & Zvacek, S. (2012). Teaching and learning at a distance: Foundations of distance education (5th ed.) Boston,      MA: Pearson.

 

Welcome

As I pursue my masters in Instructional Design and Technology, this blog follows me on my course 'Distance Learning: EDUC 6135' at Walden University.  During this course I will explore the continuing evolution of distance learning.

Thanks for following!

Layla