Warning for Instructors Using Wikis

This morning while I was eating breakfast at Cracker Barrel (living up to the Time cover article’s statement about weakened will power, I had run 4.5 miles this AM and I was huuungry), I saw this “Be Careful Wet Paint” sign.

When I saw the words “wet paint” it got me thinking about Wetpaint wikis. And I started wondering if “Be Careful” is an appropriate warning for instructors who use wikis. And yes, I think it is! Basically, when using wikis, instructors are inviting students to mess with the website before the “paint” is dried. Once we unlock something, we give students the ability make changes to what we built, and we’ve got to be OK with the fact that they will be “messy” and end with something different then what we would have imagined. I think this is a good warning for instructors who use wikis; they have to accept that they are giving up authority in the classroom (or digital environment).
All this to say, this interpretation of “wet paint” as a warning to instructors using wikis is yet another reason I really like using Wetpaint wikis. Of course, my favorite reason is based the fact they track all members’ changes in the wiki (and discussion forums). This makes it much easier to do the grading thing! 

August 15 2009 | Posted in