Wikis and BlogsLeveraging Collaborative Web Technologies as Learning Tools

Eric Robertson, PT, DPT , OCSAssistant Professor, Physical Therapy

School of Allied Health SciencesMedical College of Georgia

Rock Eagle, 2008

Program Objectives:

•Using a Case Study, we will explore the use of a blog and wiki in a physical therapy course.

• By the end of this program, you will be able to:

▫Describe important design considerations of a class wiki.

▫Discuss the strengths and weakness of this approach.

▫Develop your own strategy to using Wikis and Blogs in learning.

About Me

Physical Therapist•Orthopaedics & Manual Therapy

•Interest in Web Technology & EBP

•Blogger

Starting from Scratch…

Setting: Medical College of Georgia

School of Allied Health SciencesPhysical Therapy Dept.

Course: Orthopaedics II

Mission: Deliver a good course!

Unknown:

“How can I use collaborative web tools in the course?”

“Web 2.0 is not a fad, but is changing the way patients and physicians interact.”

Web 2.0 A New, Interactive Web ExperienceGuistini D. How Web 2.0 is Changing Medicine. BMJ 333(7582): 1283-84. (December 2006).

Sharing of Ideas Collaboration Communication

Web 2.0 in a Nutshell•Make Sites Sticky

•Notification of updated content

Defined:

•Web 2.0 is a trend in the use of World Wide Web technology and web design that aims to facilitate creativity, information sharing, and, most notably, collaboration among users. These concepts have led to the development and evolution of web-based communities and hosted services, such as social-networking sites, wikis, blogs, and folksonomies.

Source: Wikipedia

Example of a Web 2.0 App•Easy to share information with others

•People know who you are

•You know when someone updates information

•Rich with media like images, videos, widgets, and blogs

•Efficient and “sticky”

Important Social Learning Tools

• Blogs• Allow Self-Directed Learning, provoke discussion, chronology of content

• Wikis• Moderated, Various Quality of Information, useful for organization of

information, from the Hawaiian word for “quick” referencing easy edits.

• Podcasts / Videos• PT Journal Podcast Series, PT Student Videos of CPR’s

• File Sharing / Tagging / Pictures / etc.• NEJM: Pictures in Medicine, for example, bookmarking

• Searching and Push Technologies• Power Searches, RSS Feeds

(Collaborative Tools)

Intentional and Reflective Learning

• Blogs & Wikis vs. Traditional CMS• Collaborative nature promotes higher levels of learning• Much more than a copy machine

• Learning as a goal• Web 2.0 tools can foster this• Contribute to content• Collaboration• Open for peer-review

Some Background Info:

•Tech savvy class•22/32 use laptops for notes•2 have their own blog•~50% read other blogs

•VLE frustrations•General unrest about our web homes for courses

•“Clunky”•“Slow”•“Ugly”

•Intensive Format•Ortho II is a 3 credit hr course delivered in 3 weeks!

MCG DPT Class of 2010

VLE = Virtual Learning Environment

THE PLANNING PHASE

Identifying Goals/Needs

•Efficient Learning•Smooth interface

•Organization•Premeditated Structure

•Control•Private Interface

•No Hassle!•Smooth Sign-up Process•Easy to Use – No Learning!

Wiki is derived from “wiki wiki,” meaning quick. It refers to a style of website consisting of a simple syntax used to compose and edit pages by multiple people.

?Traditional VLE

Course Management System

Wiki as a VLE

Wiki Considerations

• Can be used in a variety of ways:– Group projects– Research and project collaboration– Community resource

• Need to know Wiki syntax– For example: [[link|Name of Link] or [<img: tree]

Wikidot Features: •Free! (no ads)•Privacy•Easy Edit•Clean Designs•File Storage (300MB)

Wiki Considerations

• Wiki syntax and WYSIWYG

Wiki Considerations• Wiki syntax in Wikidot

Wiki Considerations• Site Navigation

– Keep focus on content, not technology

– Minimal to No learning curve

– Simple is better• but, I crave visual interest

Peeps are yummy, but this list of links is not very appetizing!

Wiki NavigationContent-Based List-Based

• Contextual navigation

• Favored by stronger students in general

• Told a story

• Could get lost!

• Main resource page

• Initially hesitant, but student demand drove this feature ▫ Google Analytics▫ Feature Requests

• Accessible from ANY page within the site via top nav.

Content-Based Navigation

List-Based Navigation

Internal Page Navigation

Basic Page ContentsSidebar/Top- Bar: •Main Navigation•Also included nested parent pages•All Pages had link to Course Resources Page

Lecture Slides •Hosted on Zoho Show

Quote of Interest or General Information

Resources•Links to Further Content/Readings for that specific topic•This page used a tabbed frame to condense the view

Posting Lectures

Zoho Show•Free•Privacy Control•Custom Visual Display

Traditional PDF’s•Posted on Lectures page as a list

Note:

Lectures page received most total page views!

Tabbed Navigation

* Java application which saved page space, moderately difficult to code.

The Blog

Blog Goals

Daily Summary•Main points•Loose ends• Additional Points

Formative Assessment•Polls to assess class comprehension

Student Contribution•Enrich the experience•Voluntary sharing•Further the conversation•Instill good habits

Class Summary Post Example

Live polls on the blog in the form of cases.

88% Agreed!

•Free Tool

•Posted on Blog

•Debriefed in Class

Student Post Example

OUTCOMES & REFLECTIONS

11, 500 Pageviews!!!

Survey to Assess Technology Use.

88% Agreed!

•10 Questions

•Anonymous

•No incentives

•Return rate: 100% (32/32)

NAVIGATION

Statement:

I found the process of signing up for the wiki and blog to be no additional burden and easy to do.

94% Agreed!

Statement:

The Wiki site was easy to navigate.

88% Agreed!

Statement:

I was able to find and access all the course materials I needed online.

100% Agreed!

THE BLOG

Statement:

The blog in general was helpful.

75% Agreed!*weakest support of all survey responses

Statement:

The class summary blog posts were helpful.

81% Agreed!

Statement:

I made a blog post or commented on the blog.

Statement:

Top reasons for not contributing to the blog.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

Statement:

The wiki site was an improvement over GA View Vista.

91% Agreed!

Statement:

Dr. Robertson should continue to use a wiki for this course.

100% Agreed!

Statement:

The use of instructional technology (blog, wiki, etc.) in this course enhanced my learning.

97% Agreed!

REFLECTIONS

Items to Improve

•Blog integration into Wiki site

•Student Contribution to Wiki

•Relocate all lectures on Lectures page only.

•Improve lecture presentations to optimize formatting for web

•More tabbed navigation

•More formative assessment polls and interactive feedback

Utility for Others?

•Learning Curve

•Test Wiki

•Public vs. Private site

•It’s free, but could be enhanced by institutional support for software

•Time investment

•Many ways to use a wiki!

Physio-pedia.com

•My new project

•Turn-key wiki for PT instructors worldwide

•Can find full presentation linked there!