James A. West & Margaret L. West 
Using Wikis for Online Collaboration 
The Power of the Read-Write Web

How can online instructors and course designers’ instruction harness the popular Web 2.0 tool, the wiki, for successful collaboration and learning outcomes? This book focuses on using wikis in the active learning processes that are the hallmark of collaborative learning and constructivism. It provides both the pedagogical background and practical guidelines, tools, and processes for accomplishing these goals with special emphasis on wikis and other collaborative design tools. This book supports the effective design and delivery of online courses through the integration of collaborative writing and design activities.

Table of Content

Preface xiii

About the Authors xvii

ONE Getting Ready to Wiki 1

Opportunities for Online Learning 2

What Is a Wiki? 3

Types of Wikis 6

Choosing the Right Wiki 9

Features of Wikis 10

Setting Up the Wiki 17

Summary 19

TWO Designing Wiki Projects for Collaborative Learning 21

Teaching and Learning Through Wikis 21

Laying the Foundation–Preparing Students for Wiki Work 22

Building the Framework–Designing the Wiki Project 31

Monitoring Construction–Managing the Wiki Process 45

Summary 57

THREE Wiki Projects for Knowledge Construction 59

Resource Bank 60

Frequently Asked Questions 62

Error Finding and Correcting 64

Historical Time Line 66

Annotated Bibliography 69

Online Dialogue 72

Group Summary 73

Class Encyclopedia 74

Summary 77

FOUR Wiki Projects for Critical Thinking 79

‘What If . . . ?’ Scenarios 80

Case Studies 82

Debates 85

Collaborative Research Papers 88

Evaluation or Research Study 90

Frame-Based Writing 93

Nominal Group Technique 95

Structured Online Critiques 98

Summary 100

FIVE Wiki Projects for Contextual Application 101

Event Plan 102

Process Map 104

Virtual Science Lab 109

Field Research Project 112

Story Creation 114

Team Challenge 115

Media Design Project 118

Service Learning Project 121

Summary 123

SIX Wikis Today and Tomorrow 125

The Value of Collaborative Writing 125

Integrating Wikis with Other Technologies 126

What the Future Holds 126

An Invitation to Collaborate 128

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 129

Wikis for Educators 129

Web 2.0 129

Collaborative Writing 130

Scaffolding 130

Bloom’s Taxonomy 130

References 131

Index 135

About the author

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.