Reflections on PBWorks

        A wiki is an online (web) application that allows multiple users to collaborate on any given subject matter.  Most wiki’s are usually open for anyone to view.  Contributors are usually required to set up an account to identify themselves as contributors.  One of the issues with Wiki’s has always been the openness for contributions to Wiki’s, that leave them vulnerable to false information.  In my experiences with the Wiki’s I have come across, there have been a few discussions between differing contributors about who’s information was correct.  When a Wiki’s is open to any contributor, information can be posted that is based on opinion and not researched, verifiable facts. The main Wiki that I have experience with as a user and not as a teacher is the online encyclopedia project, Wikipedia.  One of the issues that I quickly learned about using Wikipedia is, that it can be a good tool, as long as you can verify the information.  You must be sure to verify any information you choose to use from a Wiki.  Over the years that I have been a Wikipedia user, Wikipedia has become better at listing the references at the bottom of the page.  If you don’t see references, be skeptical of the information.  However, one of the great affordances of Wiki’s is the world-wide sharing of information. The world-wide web, affords contributors of open Wikis to be anyone from a high school student to some of the greatest minds of our time.  Therefore, although you may find false information, the amount of valid, rich information can be extremely valuable.  As a (future) instructor/instructional designer, I would advocate for the use of Wiki’s with the stipulation that any information that my students use from a Wiki is verifiable and factual information.  

       The content that is available on Wikis such as Wikipedia can serve many learning outcomes.  Wikis affordance to be open to many world-wide, knowledgeable contributors of many professions, allows for the content to be vast and varied.  For example, although I am not a legal professional, I have found and used research on terms and law precedence that was valid and useful.  As I researched and setup an account in PB Works (David Tyler's PBWorks Play Test) I pondered on what learners would find useful about a Wiki that I would setup.   In the considering that a wiki tends to be a conglomeration of knowledge from many world-wide contributors, I would think that a cognitive theory would be applicable to the use of wikis.  Some of us as learners generate knowledge by taking what we know and applying knowledge from other advanced sources to gain a more in depth understanding of a given subject.  As I stated earlier, Wiki contributors can be some of the most advanced minds in a given field.  Therefore, using a Wiki to gain more advanced, verifiable knowledge allows for a more cognitive understanding of that given field.  Consequently, as I begin to add content to my wiki (although the free version is limited), I would publish content that would be useful, verifiable and factual on subjects of which I am knowledgeable. I would publish information that would be useful to not only my student and parents, but anyone who I allowed access to my Wiki.