Wikis and Emerging Web 2.0 Elearning Communities 91307

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Wikis and Emerging Web 2.0eLearning Communities

September 6, 2007Moderator: Matt Villano, senior contributing editor,

Campus Technology


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About this webcast

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Agenda

Introduction Wikis and Web 2.0: A primer

Case study: Boston College

Case study: Stanford University andUniversity of California, Berkeley

Building successful wikis: Keys and best

practices Conclusion and Q&A


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Presenters

Gerald C. Kane, assistant professor ofInformation Systems, Boston College

Howard Rheingold, author and professor ofcommunications at both StanfordUniversity and University of California,Berkeley

Jeff Brainard, director of Marketing,Socialtext
http://less-is-more.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/17/jb_headshot.jpghttp://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.oclc.org/ca/fr/reports/privacyandtrust/images/rheingold_howard.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.oclc.org/ca/fr/reports/privacyandtrust/default.htm&h=306&w=300&sz=180&hl=en&start=12&um=1&tbnid=3h05QXTJPFuszM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhoward%2Brheingold%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7GGLJ%26sa%3DN


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Campus Technology and T.H.E. Journal are theleading IT resources for higher education andK12.

About us

Magazine

Conferences Campus Technology Winter 2007

FETC 2008

Web sites and e-newsletters

T.H.E. Institute


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Our sponsor

Socialtext, www.socialtext.com

Socialtext wikis are designed for educational institutions thatwant to accelerate campus-wide communications, better

enable knowledge sharing, foster collaboration, and buildvibrant, e-learning communities for the students, faculty, staffand alumni. Today, more than 3,000 organizations useSocialtext including higher education clients such as

University of Southern California, Boston College, StanfordUniversity, UC Berkeley and Ohio University.
http://www.socialtext.com/http://www.socialtext.com/


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Matt Villano, senior contributing editor,Campus Technology

Wikis and Web 2.0: A Primer


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Wiki 101

What is a wiki? Wikis are web pages or sites where users can easily

create, share and edit content.

Users can turn to wikis to: Create rich knowledge bases

Manage projects and processes more efficiently

Build dynamic intranets, extranets

Form virtual communities


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Changing how wework and communicate

In the past, communication was challenging: We sent occupational spam by copying everyone.

We lost valuable info in the inbox.

We had difficulty finding information. We handled project status via meetings and conference

calls.

We were trapped by organizational silos that preventedidea flow.

Today, with wikis, things are different.


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The best of both worlds

Wikis combine the benefits of traditionaltools with emerging Web 2.0 technologies.

Traditional tools: Email, directories, search engines

Web 2.0: RSS, blogs and tagging Students have grown up with Web 2.0

technologies and expect to use them incollege and in the workplace.

Colleges and universities therefore mustprovide them.


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The benefits of wikis

They centralize content. Multiple users can access, edit and manage content.

They improve use of email.

They enable users to find and retrieveinformation quickly.

They enable users to collaborate and shareinformation efficiently.

Most importantly, theyre just cool!


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Case Study:Socialtext at Boston College

Gerald C (Jerry) Kane, Ph.D.,Assistant Professor of Information Systems,Carroll School of Management, Boston College


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The skinny on Boston College

Private, co-educational Jesuit universityin Chestnut Hill, Mass. Enrollment: 15,000 students (9,000 undergraduates)

Carroll School of Management: 2,400 undergraduatesranked No. 14 by BusinessWeek in 2007.

Wikis used in MI021: Computers inManagement First class taken by BBA students

8 sections/semester, 50 students/section


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Why wikis?

I started with Facebook.com, but class collaboration quicklyoutgrew it. Why? No file attachments, rigid structure, no peer editing.

I then turned to Socialtext to enable collaboration. Benefit of the wisdom of crowds in that under the right conditions, the

crowd can be smarter than the expert. Ive also encouraged whats called crowd -sourcing, whereby students

generate most of the content and assignments for the class. I now use wiki as a mashup to combine best of many Web 2.0

tools. Facebook/Social Networks

RSS/Feed Readers Del.icio.us/Folksonomies Google Custom Search, YouTube, others.


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Why Socialtext?

From my research, it was perceived to be theindustry leader.

It has a robust platform.

Wanted students to become familiar with toolmost likely to use in business. What I like about Socialtext:

It offers good balance between simplicity and control.

The vendor has continued to improve the product. My interactions with the company have been extremely

positive.


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How I use Wikis

Wiki functionality I can capitalize on archive to develop sections of wiki for use by laterclasses.

I encourage peer review and evaluation of papers. I administer an Open Source final exam. I track students online involvement.

RSS feeds I bring in a virtual newsstand: WSJ, BW, NYT, Wired, etc. I link to my blog, which is an easy way to communicate with students

beyond class. I also link to Google Reader, which finds interesting articles.

I Incorporate Del.icio.us to tag articles for appearance on particularsections. I monitor recent changes to wiki.

Other Web 2.0 I also incorporate Facebook, Google Custom Search, YouTube, etc.


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MI021-Computers in Management


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Gauging success

Course evaluations: 4.6 out of 5, but no benchmark to compare.

Wiki listed as both favorite and least favorite part ofthe course. For those who listed it as least favorite, collaboration was most

favorite. Lesson: Its not the tool, but processes it enables.

My workload is markedly lower. Its easier for me to create and grade exams. Its easy to catch students up if they miss (but difficult to skip). Ive had few complaints about fairness. I can use archive to create content for future classes. How do they cheat if given all the content?


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What Ive learned

Notion of If you build it, they will come is amyth.

Educators must provide incentives for usage. Carrot: Top contributors to wiki (typically by peer vote)

receive bonus points. Stick: Base-level participation required.

Increased accessibility/collaboration can

easily increase work level. Educators must be prepared to surrender a certainamount of control and trust the process, or else theywill be overwhelmed.


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Optimizing interaction

Tools can be double-edged swords. Its not about more student-professor interaction but improving

value-added , tiered interactions:

Level 1: Peer-to-Peer

Level 2: Student - TA

Level 3:Student-Prof

Source: Walsh 2007


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Are wikis for you?

Ive learned that wikis work best: In small groups (less than 150)

When theres a common language (formal and informal)

When youre dealing with non -controversial subjects

In a semi-formal setting In a dynamic environment

In an environment of trust and respect

Does this describe your classroom, your committee,your work team, your department?

Source: Information Week, 2005


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Case Study: Socialtext at StanfordUniversity and University of

California, BerkeleyHoward Rheingold, author and professor of communicationsStanford University and University of California, Berkeley


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Background

Stanford: Private research institution locatedin Palo Alto, Calif. Enrollment: 17,000 (6,400 undergrads)

UC Berkeley: Public research university inBerkeley, Calif. Enrollment: 33,000 (23,000 undergrads)

Wiki used in Communication 182/282 - Virtual

Community and Social Media Department of Communication, Stanford School of Information, UC Berkeley


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Why and how I useSocialtext wikis

With wikis, syllabi become living documents. The wiki establishes a collaborative space for

student projects. It facilitates active note-taking during class. My wiki tags make it easy to track student and

team projects. I or students can include multimedia

presentations. The wikis facilitate different public and private

workspaces


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Building Successful Wikis:Keys and Best Practices

Jeff Brainard, director of marketing,Socialtext


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What to look for in a wiki

Ease of use: Wikis should be a place where users can create, find

and edit content easily.

Integration: Wikis should offer technology that integrates with tools

such as email, RSS, instant messaging, directories andmore.

Offers different ways to view information: Wikis should offer blogs and other alternatives.

Source: Levitt, Mark. Wikis: Taking content collaboration to the next level , IDC June 2007


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Socialtext wikis: Features Collaboration. Blog publishing. Integration with email, RSS

and more. Advanced search, tagging

and organization.

Simple file management. Personalized andcustomizable navigation.

Access control andadministration.

Advanced features forflexible, remote access.

Co-existence withEnterprise IT (in corporateenvironments).


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Wikis are everywhere

In an Intranet, they Create a knowledge base. Enable group collaboration. Help manage projects, processes.

In an Extranet, they facilitate Secure, shared workspaces. Extended team collaboration. Partner and supplier portals.

With the Internet, they establish Public knowledge bases. Self-service portals.

Social communities. Mobility.


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Best practices #1:Project management

Scenario: Manage project team with members in variouslocations. Invite team into a private Socialtext wiki. Create People page for each member. Include roles, contact

information and project links. Make a project summary page. List goals and key milestones.

Link to team member pages, meeting notes, research, agendas,and attach relevant material. Project blog automatically displays work in diary format.

Benefits

Create central area where members can share notes, trackactivities and work on tasks, from any place at any time Reduce ramp-up times for new members or follow-on projects. Accelerate project cycle times by 25 percent


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Summary view of pagecontent

RSS feeds fromany page

Add attachments One-click search

Edit page and contribute todiscussion

Tags providegreater context

Add links to relevantcontent

Add multimedia (images, videos, audio)

Knowledge Wiki


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Social Point Socialtext as webpart

inside Sharepoint.

Support for MOSS 2003,WSS and 2007.

Integrates with Active

Directory for auth/SSO.

Leverages Sharepoint filerepository and search.

Wiki contents provided inSharepoint dashboard.

Easily click to edit wikipages or create new ones.

Search

Edit this page


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Best practice #2:Reduce email overload

Benefits Single location for team contributions and updates. Relieves burden of managing mountains of email each day Provides history preserves changes and prevents accidental loss Users even newcomers can quickly search the page and get

up to speed on the discussion.

Scenario: Enable better communication and team collaboration Invite team into a private Socialtext wiki. Make a new page for thedraft or discussion.

Members edit the draft as needed. The page displays latestversion.

Team members comment at the bottom of the page, discussinghow to improve the draft or discussion.


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Best practice #3:Build a dynamic Intranet

Scenario: Intranet content is stale, so users rely on email to findand send information. Encourage experts (a.k.a the people who already are answering

questions) to post in the wiki. Engage others with relevant knowledge to update and improve

content, as well. Build a glossary by defining common acronyms and jargon terms

for all to understand.

Benefits Centralized, up-to-date resource with contributions directly from

users. Quickly correct mistakes and update information.

Provides newcomers with a valuable resource for ramping up.


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Wiki Widgets: Advanced wikifunctionality made simple

Use this feature to createrich structure to pages.

Use it to incorporatecontent from other wikipages.

Use it to embed links,images and attachments.

Finally, use it to integrateexternal content feedssuch as Google,Technorati, RSS feeds,and more.


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Anytime, anywhere wikis:Miki and Socialtext Unplugged

Miki: The mobile wiki Supports Blackberry,

Palm and WindowsMobile devices.

Offers lightweight,simple mobile interface.

Enables users to viewrecent changes, addcomments and edit.

Incorporates advancedsearch function.

Socialtext Unplugged Supports off-line

access from just aboutany mobile device.

Users can syncchanges again whennetwork is available.

Certain settingsprovides alerts onrevision conflicts


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Q & A Session and Conclusion


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Learn More:Socialtext and Wikis

Visit www.socialtext.com to access these andother resources: Socialtext blog: http://www.socialtext.com/blog/ .

Boston college case study:http://www.socialtext.com/node/207 .

Product tour: http://www.socialtext.com/products/tour .

Free 14-day trial: www.socialtext.com/trial/1 .

Download Socialtext Open: www.socialtext.net/open . Contact Socialtext: [email protected] .
http://www.socialtext.com/http://www.socialtext.com/blog/http://www.socialtext.com/node/207http://www.socialtext.com/products/tourhttp://www.socialtext.com/trial/1http://www.socialtext.net/openmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.socialtext.net/openhttp://www.socialtext.com/trial/1http://www.socialtext.com/products/tourhttp://www.socialtext.com/node/207http://www.socialtext.com/blog/http://www.socialtext.com/


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Learn More:Campus Technology 2007, Winter

Leading Change in Social Collaboration EnvironmentsTrack leader: Julian LombardiAssistant Vice-President, Academic Services and Technology SupportDuke University

In this exhilarating day of discovery, attendees will get a look into thefuture as they work to develop a firm foothold in current and emergingsocial collaboration technologies for the campus.

Part 1: Social Collaboration Technologies Then, Now, and Beyond

Part 2: Case Studies: From the Campuses Part 3: Now Its Up to You


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About This Webcast

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For additional information about this or otherCampus Technology webinars, please contact:

Kanoe Namahoe, e-content [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Wikis and Emerging Web 2.0 Elearning Communities 91307