Using Wikipedia in the Classroom & The Future of the Written Word

Wikipedia Discussions?

Frey, Fisher, and Gonzalez (2010) discuss how Ms. Santori utilizes Wikipedia by having her students review the various discussions people have on different pages in their text Literacy 2.0: Reading and Writing in 21^st Century Classrooms.  Her purpose is to demonstrate to the students that people can have civil disagreements backed by support online.  Currently my policy on Wikipedia is that students can consult it to find new search terms and information related to the topic for further research.  After reading this text, I believe that I will incorporate it more to model for my students how to effectively utilize Wikipedia for research versus personal interest.

In regards to Ms. Santori’s use, I believe that I would use Wikipedia to prompt discussion between my students to model how people disagree respectfully and with evidence in an online format.  Persuasion is one of the main writing genres taught in middle school language arts and I believe that these discussion forums would provide an authentic format for the students to analyze and observe in order to learn to make their own civil arguments whether they are working on a persuasive classroom assignment or preparing for debate team.  Students might also be interested in practicing by posting their own response similar to the responses of others.

The Internet and online discussion forums are an increasing presence in classrooms and students need instruction in how to write appropriately online, especially since this work is publicly viewed by others.  Instruction in appropriate online literacy is necessary to help prepare our students for a world where these functions of technology will be present.

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Will the written word disappear?

Hodgson states in Teaching the New Writing: Technology, Change, and Assessment in the 21^st-Century Classroom; “In the future, you will not even have to read the books-just listen to them” (Herrington, Hodgson, & Moran, 2009, pg. 70).  He describes how he has his sixth grade students create digital, interactive picture books incorporating mathematical or scientific concepts from their sixth grade curriculum.  These books contain videos, animations, and other interactive features that make the story three-dimensional.  

Bromley (2010) states; “Today, reading and writing are digital events that occur worldwide.  So, the absence of pens, pencils, and paper in the future should not be surprising when we look back on the history of reading and writing” ( pg. 98).  "In his essay 'The Future of Writing,' Sperber (2002) says, "the revolution in information and communication technology may soon turn writing into a relic of the past" (p. 2). He predicts that with the speech to-print capability of computers, speech may well displace the activity of writing" (Bromley, 2010, pg. 102). Today we use eReaders instead of print books, type and create projects online, and interact using distance communication technologies so we are already on our way towards these predicted changes.

These quotes show us that technology is rapidly changing and our communication and literacy habits also.  I don’t anticipate the written word disappearing any time soon because we would need to have worldwide equity in technological advancements and everyone would have to be experienced and knowledgeable with these ever changing tools.  However, I do believe that we have started the transition that may someday make the written word obsolete as the younger generations are exposed to the new technologies from an earlier age and our creative, innovative minds find ways to ensure access to all people around the world.  Perhaps it will never be completely gone due to the isolation of some cultural groups in the world, but it may very well be less popular than it is today.  I am curious how schools will handle these changes and if speaking and listening, two skills often overlooked within language arts programs, will take more precedence than it has to prepare our future adults? 

www.amazon.com

References:

Bromley, K. (2010). Picture a world without pens, pencils, and paper: The 

      unanticipated future of reading and writing. Journal of College Reading

      and Learning, 41 (1). pgs. 97-108.

Herrington, A., Hodgson, K., & Moran, C.  (2009).  Teaching the new writing: 
     Technology, change, and assessment in the 21st century classroom.
     New York: Teachers College Press.