Cons about Wiki's

While there are many pro's about Wiki's there are also many con's about Wiki's in the classroom.

I have come across and interesting blog posted by a teacher who talks about her brilliant failure of using Wiki's in the classroom. The website is http://kairosnews.org/my-brilliant-failure-wikis-in-classrooms I found it interesting how she managed to turn around an unsuccessful lesson into something that ended up brilliant and that all teachers can learn from. Heather had the words social interaction and knowledge construction focus in her head therefore thinking about how she would have the best outcome to achieve this while taking into her own perspective that social learning is always best and for the children to share from her experiences. Heather did a 6 week workshop in visual design and it felt like she had just wasted her time as it seemed Wiki's were just another tool that did not help.

Security is another issue with Wiki's. Teachers need to be able to control what the students are accessing and why. A way around this would be to discuss with the students the need for internet safety and also send a letter home to the parents discussing what we are doing and for them to keep a look out on the Wiki and what the children are accessing in the process.

Some students can become addicted. If this happens students real life relationships become and issue. If all the students know is the internet then what happens to their social interactions and collaborative learning in the classroom?

I was reading an interesting article on Wiki's and how students can be tempted to make comments about other fellow students and teachers. http://http://www.digitaldivide.net/articles/view.php?ArticleID=361 To get around this issue discussion will be needed with the students to discuss about responsible posting and what the consequences will be if any irresponsible posting is made. Get children to sign a contract. Maybe have a session on responsible posting so children can learn about the effects and that posting comments about students or teachers on a Wiki is a form of bullying.

Most people ask won't Wiki's take away their literacy skills. There is a big debate about this and some people say it will and some people say that it may help their literacy skills. I am personally within this debate. I believe that Wiki's can extend their literacy skills through social interaction and collaboration with others however I believe it is fading because their are tools such as spell check which students can click on and it automatically changes the spelling without the children noticing.