Wiki This Way:
Harnessing the Potential of Wiki Technology
in Elementary and Secondary Education
Penelope Pereboom
University of Hawaii at Mānoa
March 31, 2009
Introduction
• Increased demands on
teachers include:
– Meeting state standards
– Differentiating instruction
– Effectively managing the
classroom
– Equipping students with
21st century skills
– Embracing digital literacy in
the classroom.
Statement of Purpose
The purpose of this project was to evaluate the
effectiveness of a Web-based instructional
module with the instructional goal of encouraging
Preschool through 12th grade (PreK-12) teachers
to consider using Wiki technology to further their
PD and to integrate Wikis into their curriculum.
Background
Background
“Our students have changed radically. Today’s
students are no longer the people our
educational system was designed to teach.”
~ Marc Prensky
Knowledgeable, skilled teachers
can potentially help students to
master communication,
collaboration, innovation, and
critical thinking skills vital to
economic success in the global
economy.
Unfortunately, the current top-down,
lecture based, isolated workshop
model of professional
development has failed to
adequately prepare teachers to
meet the challenge of preparing
students for the 21st century.
Additional barriers to effective PD
include lack of time,
insufficient resources, and
information overload.
Mandating high standards and tough tests
is useless unless teachers have the tools,
support, and training to help them change
their practice and yet, the typical school
district allocates less than 1 percent of the
budget for PD. (Sparks, 2000).
Mandating high standards and tough tests
is useless unless teachers have the tools,
support, and training to help them change
their practice and yet, the typical school
district allocates less than 1 percent of the
budget for PD. (Sparks, 2000).
Furthermore, No Child Left
Behind(NCLB) legislation
has put such an emphasis on
content learning that schools
have spent funds on
instructional software that
emphasizes drill and rote
learning or computerized
assessment tools instead of
spending money developing
more innovative instructional
strategies (Stover, 2007).
Furthermore, No Child Left
Behind(NCLB) legislation
has put such an emphasis on
content learning that schools
have spent funds on
instructional software that
emphasizes drill and rote
learning or computerized
assessment tools instead of
spending money developing
more innovative instructional
strategies (Stover, 2007).
Studies have shown that quality PD can
yield dramatic improvements in student
achievement and can influence student
behavior more than any other factor
(Sparks, 2000).
Studies have shown that quality PD can
yield dramatic improvements in student
achievement and can influence student
behavior more than any other factor
(Sparks, 2000).
What is quality PD?
•
•
•
•
Teacher-centered
Self-directed
Collaborative
Allows for reflection
and feedback
• Sustainable
• Addresses real
concerns
Emerging technologies
Emergent Web 2.0
technologies such as
blogs, Wikis, podcasts,
and RSS feeds support a
constructivist approach to
learning (Jonassen, Peck,
& Wilson, 1999).
• Emerging technologies such as Wikis
can be used to support PD programs
which are
– collaborative,
• Emerging technologies such as Wikis
can be used to support PD programs
which are
– collaborative,
– allow for reflection,
• Emerging technologies such as Wikis
can be used to support PD programs
which are
– collaborative,
– allow for reflection,
– address authentic problems,
• Emerging technologies such as Wikis
can be used to support PD programs
which are
– collaborative,
– allow for reflection,
– address authentic problems,
– and encourage peer observation and
feedback.
What is a Wiki?
• A Wiki is a web page or collection of Web
pages designed to enable anyone with
access to contribute or modify content
without any special technical knowledge or
tools aside from a computer with an
Internet connection.
Module Objectives
Krathwohl’s affective domain taxonomy
act in accordance with the values
relate the value to own
valuing certain ideas
Being committed
Being aware
Instructional Strategy
• John W. Keller’s ARCS Model of
Motivational Design:
– Attention
– Relevance
– Confidence
– Satisfaction
• Principles of adult learning theory.
Formative Evaluation
• Three one-on-one evaluations –
questionnaire and interview
• Two small groups solicited from
– School teachers at a local private school
– Post-baccalaureate students enrolled in
teacher certification program
• Results from 15 participants were
evaluated
Response to Module Objective Questions
Response to Module Objective Questions
67%-90% responded agree or strongly agree
to questions regarding the module’s objectives.
Response to Module Objective Questions
27% responded they disagreed that they were
motivated to willingly completed the module.
Response to module design and content questions
Response to module design and content questions
13 out of 14 questions
had an 86% or better
favorable response
(agree or strongly
agree)
Unfavorable responses
(disagree or strongly disagree):
Unfavorable responses
(disagree or strongly disagree):
I would you participate in similar
PD.
Unfavorable responses
(disagree or strongly disagree):
I would participate in similar PD.
Navigation was easy.
Conclusions
• Low increase, 10%, in number of
participants considering using Wikis to
collaborate outside their school
– Demographics show 30% never collaborate
– Nevertheless, 100% said they would
collaborate with colleagues within their school
Future study: include more information on
building collaborative communities
Conclusions
• 27% of participants not motivated to complete
the module willingly
– Module was presented in class
• 20% disagreed they would participate in similar
PD
– Comfort level with technology, access to technology,
module design?
Future study: Follow up questions
Further Study
• Action research – involve all stakeholders
• Administrator support – give priority to 21st
century learning opportunities for teachers
• Include a hands on face-to-face segment
Questions? Comments?
Thank You!
ETEC Ohana…
Advisor:
Dr. Fulord
Ari Eichelberger
ETEC Master’s students