Annotated Bibliography Part 1

Below is an initial gathering of research for my exploration into collaborative learning through classroom wikis. Several of the sources below focus on historical and technical aspects of wikis, including pros and cons, in order to give context to the argument that wikis help promote collaborative learning. The next set of sources that I will post will offer greater detail and specific references to wikis and collaborative learning.

Bowman, Cindy, and Renn Edenfield. "Becoming Better Together Through Collaboration and Technology." The English Journal 90 (2000): 112-119.
While this article does not focus on the use of wikis in particular, it does discuss with extended examples issues of collaboration and technology. Though there is no direct connection to wikis, it provides a framework for technology oriented collaboration through mediums such as email, online journals and other computer collaborative activities. A large focus of this article is on a seventh grade classroom who are described as “working better together,” (113).

Jakes, David. "Wild About Wikis." Technology and Learning 27 (2006): 6.
A brief but informative overview of how wikis work, educational benefits of wikis, available wiki tools, supporting and maintaining wikis and concerns surrounding wikis. Beyond providing a broad scope of information about wikis, this article also includes eleven wikis to watch ranging from personal wikis to educational wikis. Additionally, a list of wiki resources are offered with detailed explanations about the cost, operation and user-friendliness of a variety of different wiki options.

Locke, Thomas, and Dixie Andersen. "Wiki Skills are Essential in Academics and Life?" American Teacher 91 (2006): 4.
A point/counterpoint approach to the uses of wikipedia and scholarship are examined by two teachers in this article. The positive stance on wikis argues that students could benefit from classroom wikis because it promotes many aspects of traditional scholarship such as publication, challenging and questioning ideas, and defending opinions amongst peers. The opposing point of view offers up issues of credibility and accountability of authors since wikis can often be written anonymously.

Oatman, Eric. "Make Way for Wikis: Easy-to-Use Software That Lets Students Collaborate is Heading to Your School." School Library Journal 5 (2005): 52-54.
Targeted toward teachers, “Make Way for Wikis…” offers anecdotal experiences of teachers currently using classroom wikis while blending historical facts for contextual purposes. Mentions of various schools across the country using classroom wikis, including a school in Bloomfield Hills, Mi., provides a backdrop to the benefits wikis can offer students and teachers. Issues such as authentic audience, enhanced learning through social interactions, and improving writing skills are discussed.

Raman, Murali. "Wiki Technology as a "Free" Collaborative Tool Within an Organizational Setting." Information Systems Management 23 (2006): 59-67.
“Wiki Techonology…” discusses how wikis operate as a collaborative tool within academic and professional environments and provides a list of benefits from using wikis. Reference to the use of wikis in the classroom is mentioned as well as wikis used for administrative purposes. A specific case example from Claremont University Consortium puts into perspective a real-life instance of wiki success.

Seitzinger, Joyce. "Be Constructive: Blogs, Podcasts, and Wikis as Constructivist Learning Tools." Learning Solutions: Practical Applications of Technology for Learning 31 July 2006. 15 Mar. 2007 .
The primary argument in this piece is that current technology (note that the author states that wikis, blogs and podcasts are no longer emerging technology) offers viable tools focused on constructivist learning. A definition by Jackie Miers sums up in simplistic terms what constructivist learning is and a connection is made between Miers’ definition and the use of wikis, blogs and podcasts through seven core content areas: problem-based learning, learner-centeredness, collaborative learning, social presence, interactivity, support, and cognitive tools.

Shareski, Dean, and Carol Ann K. Winkler. "Are Wikis Worth the Time? Collaborative, Anonymous Collections of Online Information, Such as Wikipedia, Hold Promise and Peril for Young Researchers." Learning and Leading with Technology 33 (2005): 6-8.
Similar to the article “Wiki Skills are Essential in Academics and Life?” this article offers a point/counterpoint interpretation questioning the worth of wikis. While there is not a heavy focus on scholarship from either side of the argument, important issues are raised such as an exploration into how wikis are changing the world of knowledge and learning. In rebuttal, concerns of fake writing and vandalized wikis are examined to discredit the value of wiki use in the classroom.

Spek, Sander. "Knowledge Management by Wikis." Institute for Knowledge and Agent Technology. .
Sander’s exploration into wikis focuses primarily on the use of wikis in professional settings though many of the benefits (and downfalls) to wiki usage that he writes about correlate to academic wikis. “Knowledge Management by Wikis” introduces positives of wiki use through such areas like collaboration, connectivity, organic development and self-healing and pairs positive attributes with concerns such as authority issues and motivational concerns.

Taylor, Chris. "It's a Wiki, Wiki World." Time 29 May 2005. 17 Mar. 2007 .
A mainstream article found in Time magazine, this piece covers historical aspects of Wikipedia and the current use of wikis. A strong emphasis is placed on Ward Cunningham, a programmer who originally created wikis and highlights other areas of his career such as Nupedia (which failed rather quickly). A brief exploration into pros and cons of wiki use is examined, but lacks in-depth analysis. “It’s a Wiki, Wiki World” serves as an outline of historical aspects of wiki usage and the people behind its creation.


Walker, Jr., John P. Identifying and Overcoming Barriers to the Adoption and Use of Wikis in Collaborative Knowledge Management. Diss. Univ. of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, 2006.
A dissertation about wikis, Walker approaches this subject by identifying problems and offering solutions. The initial part of the dissertation covers a useful literature review which provides a platform for other works written about wikis. Beyond the literature review, other pertinent sections provide a history of wikis, the benefits, and the barriers (divided into four sections: social, epistemological, technical, and cultural). Walker’s investigation into barriers of wiki use is central to the conversation on wikis because it provides insight on issues concerning wikis that are currently not operating in the best manner in which they could be. Recognizing the worth and values in wikis is abundant in literature, but Walker offers a piece of the conversation on obstacles that may inhibit wikis from producing strong collaborative efforts.