How might educators use a wiki in class? What would be the purpose? What sort of content would it contain? What would be the expectations of students for contributions to the wiki?
There are many ways to use a wiki in an educational setting. It could be used in literature classes as a place for discussion or to find resources. A wiki could be used in health or physical education classes to show videos of exercises or have links to related websites and students could search the net for websites and post them. For math, students could share their short cut ideas or find different ways to solve problems. A cooking teacher could use a wiki for recipe posting and tips for cooking and of course the students would contribute also.
I think the purpose of a wiki in most educational uses would be for student collaboration/contribution and a place for them to find resources for their class. It would be great for students with disabilities to contribute and even for the shy kid. Students could take their time and even use technology gadgets for disabilities if needed.
The content is only limited by the imaginations of the users/creators. The expectations of students using the wiki could be contributing relevant information, using it appropriately, and following wiki (and internet) etiquette. The teacher would go over all of the specific expectations with the class because these would also differ from class to class. One teacher may want graphics or videos added while another may only want writing.
