Wikis Support Collaborative Student Writing
In a study working with grade six students, Dr. Rebecca Luce-Kapler’s research team learned that wikis were easy to use and students eagerly wrote and designed stories.
Much of what Lankshear and Knobel (2003) call “new literacies” demands engagement with new technologies. In a world where students are learning many of their literacies through popular culture, it is important to teach students to use different modalities of expression. We need to consider what is known about how students learn and the technologies that are emerging as important influences demanding students’ and teachers’ attentions.
Broadening the concept of literacy to include new skills and formats while questioning and recreating existing practices of literacy instruction are monumental challenges in the midst of a busy teacher’s schedule. Issues associated with learning in a multimodal classroom unsettle existing classroom routines, language, and student interactions. This study offers some insights into how teachers can face some of these challenges with good results.
Key Findings
- Collaborative wiki writing encouraged students to experiment with genre and media
- Students were motivated to revise and give each other constructive feedback
- Wiki writing offered a supportive structure for students struggling with language expression
Further Information: Rebecca Luce-Kapler
