Please watch the video on Wikis in this blog and comment on the applicability of the use of wikis to the EFL context in order to develop students' writing skills. In what ways do you think it can contribute to the writing skill development of students? Please comment on potential challenges in incorporating a wiki in an EFL setting as well.
Also you need to find a sample wiki that is used in EFL /ESL teaching online, give the link and comment on how it is used and in what ways it contributes to the student learning.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I think language teaching allows to use many different kinds of tools thanks to its nature. language classes could be supported also by technology as developing technology allowas more communication and that means more language:) That's why now there is a great deal of research on using technology in EFL classroom like derya and I do on blogs:) I believe, wikis can applied to may context and can be useful especially for writing classes. students usually find writing classes boring and that kind of technology may generate interest among them. besides, wikis considerably simplifes the process of creating a web page so students can easily create and use those web pages. Also, it is obvious that they are already using wikis by referencing wikipedia in their homeworks.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Ward's original description, wiki is “the simplest online database that could possibly work”. Actually it is a software program giving the users the chance to create and edit web page. Its content is constructed by using any web browser. It is free and this also increases its applicability in teaching and learning of writing in EFL or ESL context. Another good point related to wikis is that contributors can edit each other’s posts in terms of grammar and content. In this way, there is a need to read and understand the posts. Trying to find mistakes and also correcting them can increase students’ proficiency in many ways. Their abilities, especially linguistic ones can improve. It also supports hyperlinks, so students can give handy websites and get benefit of them. It is a group communication mechanism and students will be exposed to language and target skill in this way. Lastly it is suitable in such an age because now students are always in front of computer screen; and it will not be hard to make them participate in wiki activities. In these days writing assignments in traditional ways become burden students. They are not interested in them. They don’t want to do their writing homework with traditional methods, so wiki is a good tool to attract their attention. Because students are fond of using technology in any field of their lives, I think technology should also be integrated into their writing classes by using wikis.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link of a useful wiki: http://classroombraids.wikispaces.com
In my opinion, this site is an excellent example of using wikis for international collaboration that you can at least look at it to get an idea about it. I hope you will benefit from it…
I think wikis can easily adapt in language teaching lessons. English language teaching can be supported with technology because with the help of these methods students can improve their English better. I think an English teacher should use technology in her class as much as possible. For example with wikis students can improve their writing and vocabulary. It makes both students and teachers’ work easy. Students can make the assignments via wiki and they can see their friends’ work too. It helps them to see their own mistakes or to see their friends’ development. Finally, I think the most beneficial way of wikis is it is very easy to use them. Many students complain about how blogs are difficult to use or the other programs but wikis is very easy to use. With a three button you can do everything.
ReplyDeleteTo start with, EFL classes should provide many technological opportunities as the technology has developed day by day. Wikis may be used as a good and useful example of this technological opportunities. Classic writing classes and activities are generally boring for students, so wikis may be applied to writing courses in EFL classes. Students enjoy more while using wikis as they provide students with the chance to use them free and edit what they want. Wikis is also helpful in that it may encourage peer evaluation so that the students realize their mistakes with the help of this evaluation and correction. It is also an enjoyable way of communicating. Lastly, as many students deal with technology and know about it, wikis may be attractive for them.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all using such technologies as Wikis always make the lessons more effective and enjoyable.By using Wikis, writing courses may be more attractive for students.Since writing is a long and difficult process generally students don't like writing courses.However Wikis give the chance of using it freely and edit everything. Students can develop their writing and vocabulary .They can see their frıends' assignment thanks to Wikis and they can see and evaluate other's assignments.Using wikis is good for both students and teachers.
ReplyDeleteUsin Wikis can have very advantegeous such us it helps students to improve their computer skills which they will desparetely need in their teaching life. It is useful about students' sharing ideas more easiy and in a shorter time. Also they enjoy while using wikies. Moreover it may give them a feeling which make them feel as if they succeeded something important.
ReplyDeleteI think wikis could be used in supporting collaborative writing tasks. It would make working on the same text a lot lot more easy than working on a paper. It also eliminates the difficulty of meeting with group members. Since it involves computers and technology it would be more inviting for the new generation I guess. Though, this can be a disadvantage as well. Students may have difficulty in using it. But with providing some tutorials one could overcome this issue too.
ReplyDeleteOops, forgot to post the link to an EFL wiki. You can find tons of them here:
ReplyDeletehttp://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis