Wikis as Constructivist Learning Environments

Richard S. Lavin, Prefectural University of Kumamoto
Jennifer Claro, Shokei College

In this paper, we suggest that wikis deserve serious consideration as an important tool of the constructivist educator. After a brief review of Piagetian and Vygotskian constructivism, and a look at the literature on the implementation of constructivist education using technology, we adopt six recommended constructivist elements of online tools or environments (multiple modes of representation, collaboration opportunities, experience with multiple perspectives, learner centered, learner relevant, and social negotiation) and argue that wikis’ fit with these elements appears to be a good one. We sketch several actual and hypothetical educational uses of wikis as illustrations of their potential, and highlight directions for future research.

構成主義を支持する者にとってWikiがいかに重要で可能性を持ったツールで
あるか、本論文で提案する。オンラインツールならびにオンライン環境において
望ましい6つの構成主義的要素について述べ、それらの要素にWikiがいかに答えうるかについて議論を行う。教育におけるWikiの実際の使用例やその他の可能性について紹介し、今後の研究の方向性について述べる。

Wikis as constructivist learning environments