Topic: Wikis in Education
Faciliator: Roisin Kelly-Laubscher, UCT
Date: Thursday, 7th of June 2012, 14.00-16.00
Venue: Old Science Building, Bellville
Workshop description
In general terms a wiki is a website to which users can add, edit and delete content. However in education a Wiki can be a space for your students to practice skills in academic literacy, collaboration and using computers, build-up a resource for themselves and others and learn while writing, reading, viewing and linking. There are many sites where people can create Wikis for their class but this workshop will focus on a site called “Wikispaces” which provides an easy to use interface with tools that enhance its use in education.
During the workshop you will create your own Wikipage on which you will learn how to write, edit, format, add pictures and links and publish. You will also engage with possible uses of a Wiki in education including a specific example of an educational “Anatomy Wiki” developed by first year Medical students at the University of Cape Town.
About the facilitator: Dr Roisin Kelly-Laubscher lectures Anatomy & Physiology at the Department of Human Biology, University of Cape Town. She is one of a team of lecturers involved in a foundation programme for students who failed subjects of mainstream programmes within the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Topics covered in first semester Anatomy in mainstream are revisited. To avoid re-lecturing the same material an anatomy course was developed in an online environment which would encourage them to practice key skills such as academic literacy, computer literacy and time management.