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Staff Development

Towards More Collaborative Learning Online: Using the Wiki Tool in the BLE

Unit value:

Target Audience

Any new or existing BLE users on the SOAS staff. A basic knowledge of the BLE is useful but not essential.

Course Content

A Wiki is simply a webpage that can be collaboratively authored and edited by a group of users. The most well-known example is probably Wikipedia. The BLE has its own Wiki tool, allowing an entire class or specific groups to add to and edit text, graphics, files and links on a shared webpage. This provides instructors with an excellent way of encouraging students to collaborate and, for example, carry out project or group work online.

In this hands-on session, Alex Fischer will demonstrate how he has been using Wikis with some of his courses in the Law Department. You will then have a chance to practice using a course Wiki.

Aims and Objectives

  • To introduce participants to the concept and basic functionality of wikis
  • To demonstrate some examples of their use
  • To discuss some of the benefits and challenges of using a wiki and how it can motivate your students and enhance their learning
  • To practice using the wiki tool on the BLE