Using Wikis in Science Classes
Teachers and Students Use Educational Technology to Support Learning
Sep 8, 2008
A Wiki, Hawaiian for quick or fast, can be used by science teachers to provide an online venue for managing their science classroom activities and providing information to their students. Using Wikis, teachers have the ability to collaborate with their students on projects. Teachers can provide students with online group study guides, lessons, and classroom notice boards. Students can work together on group assignments or submit individual assignments.
Wikis are similar to blogs because of the online nature of the technology. However, blogs tend to be one way communication with the teacher sharing information to students and others. Wikis are different because of the collaborative nature of this dynamic tool. Wikis are as easy to use as blogs, because there is no need for special software programs, technical abilities, or HTML knowledge.
Wikis Have Controlled Access for Safety
Security of information and safety for students is not an issue, because teachers can limit access or allow open access to specific parts, for example:
- Viewing – teachers can open their Wiki to the public or limit to members only.
- Membership – teachers decide who can join; students, parents, invited guests, or the public.
- Protection – because of the collaborative nature of Wikis, teachers can lock specific sections so other members cannot modify.
- Moderation – teachers can moderate all aspects of their Wiki for appropriateness.
- Notification – teachers can set up instant notification when a member makes a post or changes any aspect of the Wiki.
Strategies for Wikis in Science Class
Applications of Wiki use in science classrooms are only limited by the creativeness of the teacher and students to support science learning. The following are a few examples.
Students collaborate in:
- defining science terms using images
- links to detailed explanations
- online videos on Teacher Tube
Glossary of Scientific Terms
- Example: students develop an interactive glossary for defining physical science terms throughout the entire school year.
Taxonomy – a student developed identification, naming, and classification of living things during their life science or biology course.
- Example: students develop the taxonomy of specific plants using definitions and images.
Investigations – student groups report on experimental designs and submit investigation reports to their teacher.
- Example: students collaborate in the investigation of the mystery, why honey bees are are disappearing.
- Visit Science Case Studies and Problem Based Learning for additional information.
Collaborate with Other Schools – teachers and students can develop working relationships with other schools around the country or world to collect data for scientific investigations.
- Example: students work with students in other parts of the country or countries to determine acidity of rain.
Visual Arts – students groups can collaborate in research to find web-based resources which describe scientific processes using works of art.
- Example: students upload images or animations which visually represent how mountains are formed.
Advantages of Wikis
The advantage of Wikis is they involve students in an interactive manner in science class. This allows the science learning process to become more inquiry-based, as students are more actively engaged in the learning process.
Visit Understanding Scientific Inquiry to view how Wikis fit within scientific inquiry.
Wikis provide connections between science concepts and a student’s ability to learn science. Students synthesize information for others to view and share as they work collaboratively. They have ownership in their own learning, are moderated by their teacher, and are presented with challenges for all student levels.
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