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Blikis Beyond the Borders
Polly Hoover, Ph.D.
Michelle Navarre Cleary, Ph.D.
What is a bliki? A web page that combines the attributes of
a blog for individual use and a wiki for collaborative use
A wiki is a web page (or pages) that multiple users can edit
24/7 availability Collaborative, less hierarchical Allows historical overview and
hypertexts/images
Why should I use a bliki?
Doesn’t Blackboard do everything?
Advantages over Blackboard and
Conventional Web Pages
Blikis Writing as a communication tool in a community–
not for the teacher alone and for a grade Students have access to editing material – so
engaged in the construction of the course Can include outside speakers in the bliki
discourse – so a wider community engaged in the course
Allows the integration of hypertexts and images in all postings
Easy to use, what you see is what you get editing
One example of the success of the bliki in the
classroom…
SNL-CCC Bridge Program Adult students from School for New
Learning Adult students from City Colleges of
Chicago (Truman and Wright) Instructor from SNL Instructor from CCC “Blended” course
Challenges for Student Retention and Engagement
Different levels of college readiness, particularly in terms of writing
Geographical distance Time constraints (school, family, jobs) Technological differences (from
computer access to individual’s ease) Different Blackboard sites
From multiplicity to one
How to blend these diversities into one coherent and strong
learning community?
How it works…
http://womenofcents.pbwiki.com
http://mexicanrevolution.pbwiki.com/
How we did: Retained all of the SNL students and two thirds
of the CCC students One student is transferring to SNL upon
graduating from Wright this semester. Every student discussed their BA and some their MA plans with us.
Students overwhelmingly commented on the diversity of the class as one of its greatest strengths
Students gained a more nuanced understanding of Dr. Gregory’s conduct manual
