Why Wiki?
August 7, 2008
In his article entitled Coase’s Penguin, or Linux and the Nature of the Firm, American law professor, Yochai Benkler1 identifies a new form of production callled “commons-based peer-production” which he claims has important advantages over other prduction methods where what is being produced is information or culture and where computers and communication capabilities are widely distributed, not concentrated.
He cites the development of open source software as a case in point and the creation of the Linux operating system as the premier example. Under this model thousands of programmers contribute to the development of a software project which is free of the usual copying and use restrictions associated with proprietary material. The difference is clearly seen in contrasting Linux with Microsoft’s Windows, for example.
No one owns the open source software in terms of controlling how it develops or where it might be used. Benkler elaborates at length on the efficiencies and effectiveness of this collaborative production process when producing information and cultural material. Dr. Robert Cummings of Columbus State University argues that the Wiki is an important educational tool because it employs this new production model.
It is likely that we do students a favor when we introduce them to a way of building knowledge which is increasingly used in the mainstream economy around them.
While some educators wonder whether to choose a blog instead of a wiki, Cummings points out that the wiki has several pedagogcal advantages. First, the teacher ceases to be the target audience of the student work and is replaced with ”a reasonable imaginary audience” which often writes back.
Secondly, student authors are asked to judge their content in terms of the needs of the project, not in terms of the needs of the teacher or other authority.
In addition, the wiki offers maximum flexibility for the creativity of the student and because the project, by its nature, is collaborative, each student must may see the where her work should be connected (linked) to other parts of the project.
Finally, the student sees his work is valuable, that his words count. Furthermore, the sharing of his work with others creates a subtle pressure to excellence based on peer expectations.
1Benkler, Yochai. “Coase’s Penguin, or Linux and the Nature of the Firm.” 112 Yalle Law Journal 369 (2002): 369-447
