Discussion and reflection on the profile wiki

The first wiki we have been asked to contribute to is the profile wiki. Firstly, I have to say that I was initially unsure of just what I should and should not divulge about myself.  After completing some of the activities and gaining an understanding of where we are heading and what we are expected to achieve, I came to realise that the more I withheld information, the more I would be disadvantaging myself.  Without some relevant accurate information, I would not be able to select a partner to work with on the next wiki activity and more importantly the opportunity for all of the wiki activities to be truly authentic activities would be jeopardised.  How can you really understand and reflect on a task that you have not fully participated in and completed personally?  With this in mind I then decided to contribute accurate relevant information so that I can have the authentic experience that this type of learning is aimed at providing.

• So how has the profile wiki linked us to learning theory?

The profile wiki has a focus on connectivism.  Connectivism allows individuals to link together knowledge, information and ideas.  Through this activity we have been able to gain insight into our fellow students and look at possible partnerships which may enrich our individual learning experiences.  By posting some personal information explaining areas such as age, family, current experience and skills, current work commitments and learning styles, we are able to select a partner/'s who will understand our personal lives and commitments so that there is a social partnership as well as an educational partnership which contributes to our learning journey.  Social connections are an important aspect to this activity as they serve to maintain and nurture the connections that are made which facilitates continual learning.

The profile wiki also links us with the dimensions of learning.  In this activity we are exposed to how the attitudes of ourselves as the learners may influence our participation and therefore our learning.  The scaffolding of hyperlinks to information and tutorials help establish understanding of the task requirements and therefore reduces resistance that may be faced by requiring the learning of a new skill to complete the tasks.  This then leads into the acquisition and integration of knowledge.  We are given the declarative knowledge in the instructions of how to add to the wiki as well as the procedural knowledge which is contained in tutorials.  Both of these types of information is reinforced through the hands on task of adding of our profiles on the wiki.

The partnerships and wiki activities then serve to establish networking abilities.  A network being the creation of a group of people which communicate and share information that is of mutual benefit and allows advances in common interests. 

• So how does the profile wiki scaffold our learning?

The profile wiki is a starting block for us to 'test the waters' in our introduction to this type of task and more importantly establish the partnerships and networking which are foundational to our learning.  It also allows us to explore the implications of using this tool in our own teaching experiences.  Without participating and therefore understanding the activity, we would not be able to create similar opportunities for our students where we know the challenges involved and the benefits which can be gained.  This would be a great activity to do with students as it is a great way to introduce them to this type of learning and to each other as well.

• So why use a wiki for profiling personal information?

A wiki is an accessible website which allows the users to create and edit web pages which can include hyperlinks.  This allows the individual to create their own space amongst the larger collaborative information and the information can be changed and updated easily by any of the participants.  The wiki is a useful tool for allowing collaboration which enables information to be put together.  Using a profile wiki has enabled a certain type of information about our GDLT cohort to be grouped together effectively.