Wiki plus.

Currently I am coordinating a research training program that consists of course and other forms of teaching/learning forms such as workshops, seminars, etc. for transferable skills. The characteristic of our programme is that it covers Global Health which is cross cutting from cell to society research. This translates to our students being placed in different departments and different institutions at KI. Therefore it teaching would allow us to meet in the cyber space.

It is difficult to select only one IT tool for teaching after taking this inspiring course this week. I would begin with wiki-space for simplicity, user friendliness and possibility to add on other forms of IT devices. Wiki is easily created and maintainable, it would give each student opportunity to contribute, stay updated and interact with others in the course. For example a course would run for a week and it ends, but for a teacher it never ends one would want to have feedback for improving next course. Therefore having a wiki to go back to is useful, another important pedagogic advantage in wiki would be to also have good interaction with other invited teachers who may be there for an hour or two, they could contribute by using wiki or may be even creating own page, so the students can stay in touch with them. Since learning is also applying students continue to learn even after the course, so with wiki they can log in and contact, discuss with former classmates. With wiki I would like to add a link to slide sharing, if teachers & student permit, power point presentation and lecturer’s voice during the course to allow students to rewind and use that lecture and discussion following it to be synchronized and save on our wiki. This I think is great opportunity to hear again what occurred in class and it may contribute to learning and remembering for life the interaction rather than just reading the text of the ppt. Sometime even good courses one wishes to have had another opportunity to attend, and it is possible without travelling, visa etc…
Wiki I see it also as possibility to actively involve our collaborators in other institutions outside KI/Sweden, several bridges have been built to create research collaboration at KI, I foresee Wiki and other IT tool for teaching will build bridging also in PhD education at KI and it’s collaborators around the world, after all KI is global university.