Google vs. Wikis

Google is probably the reason I was hesitant to use wikis.  Google is very user friendly, and through our district Google mail, sites, documents, and calendars we can have more privacy, which is often important when collaborating with students.  During the summer of  2008 when our district began Google mail, I began to "play" with Google using my personal gmail account.  When school opened I was ready with websites and documents.  It is now 2011 and I am still trying to have staff (administrators and teachers) buy into  using Google anything; most are still stuck on Google mail, and even that is used ineffectively.   

The biggest drawback for Google is using the discussion tool on Google sites, which is not user friendly.  So, when Google groups was set up for our district in the summer of 2010 I was excited and established a few groups.  Now we have to ask permission, and from my experience it takes too long.  When all else fails, use the regular gmail, where there are no restrictions.  

Collaboration via Google docs appears to be a great tool.  I have attempted to use the tool with several groups, with little success.  I think people are afraid, perhaps of losing information?    I upload everything to do with my professional obligations to Google.  I ask students, both adult and adolescent learners to use Google, but many resist.  One problem I have encountered using Google within the district is that when I invite non district persons to collaborate, even with permission, it never seems to work.  This is where wikis or personal Google would work better.

If I were to pick the winner for collaboration tools, I have a difficult choice.  Google is simple and I have used it so frequently it is second nature.  However, wikis are easier to access when outside the network, and the collaboration and discussion tools appear to be more utilitarian. 

Creating a Wiki

This school year I have grown to love wikispace as a tool.  In  the fall of 2009 when I was first introduced to a wiki, it was used as a forum for an inquiry to action research group.  I will admit I was so busy that I did not take the time to communicate with the members and used email instead.  Wow.  That seems so long ago, and regret not taking the time to use it.  However, I did start several wikis that year.   I now have created wikispaces for each of my classes. I also completed an  Online Professional Development course for Government teachers where we used a wiki for discussion, and an Open Source LMS.  This is where I learned to collaborate.
Through the readings in this class I now understand the purpose and rationale of using a wiki.  I want my students to become wikispace users, but this has been a little bit of a struggle.  Students love to use social media, but I think even online writing assignments are seen as a chore.  As I integrate more collaboration on the wiki, I think it will be more accepted.  Out of 100 teachers at my school, there may be less than 10 that use wikis, and most do not use with the students.  I have even had parents tell me they are confused for their child when the child did not complete the assignment.  I modeled wikispace discussions in class, and we used the media lab twice.  Still there are students who are not motivated to write online. I will work on this factor over the summer.  One problem is that our school has few computers that work, and many students have no technology at home, or have no internet.  I have advised that their phones will work for discussion comments.  
I have begun to join other wikis.  Teachers have created entire courses that include textbooks on wikis.  Many a simply a storage of documents, but several include student to student and student to teacher collaboration. The teacher created sites that are formed around the topics of literacy and differentiation are so helpful.  I have learned a great deal just from reading and linking within these types of wikispaces.   So, the next hurdle will be the collaboration element for both students and teachers.