Wiki University

Why not a Wiki University? One which would employ a social fabric which allows for differences in presentation without competitive, hostile and confrontational overloading. This University would not be a single site, but rather a combine of sites which are organized (but not presented) at a central LinkingRepository?. Represented in theWikiUniversity would be Colleges. Each College would represent topics which are normally presented at BrickAndMortarUniversites? as well as topics which are not, employing a scholastic rigor and level similar to that of such Universities. A search facility could be located at this central site which give users the ability to find what they wish to study.

Any number of organizable, coherent subjects could be included in the University, Colleges or Divisions and would include Summary, Goal, and Syllabus which would describe, review, and define the coverage, normal period of time one would take to complete the course. In addition to the presentation of the material, the courses could include interactive demonstrations, reviews, tests, discussion forums, and projects and practical applications.

Presently one can find courses which present material which is useful, if not complete and which allow a measure of interactivity, but which do not satisfy a user's desires. Some are outlines and provide links limited to those formally enrolled. A WikiUniversity should be open and not impose barriers to entry other than that of registering a user name and the setting of a user password (to allow proper attribution for submissions and to provide a means of tracking learning).

Courses could be presented in various formats, from that of controlled and fixed format, which cannot be altered, but which can be discussed, to that of wide-open and highly interactive course sessions where material can be questioned, reviewed, enhanced and tested by participants. This would make it possible for varied learning environments which would meet the subject and participants requirements. Some of these sessions could morph into Courses in which the presentation part is frozen into a formal read only form, while retaining read/write discussions and student interactivity.

Entrance to the WikiUniversity should be free, and should be structured in such a manner as to offer many EntryPointLevels and progressions allowing students at levels including that of grade school educational levels as low as the 2nd through 4th grades (public schools USA). The idea being to offer learning experiences and structures chosen by the student, in addition to those selected and mandated by institutions. Courses offered should however be subjected to a rating and review process which would classify content according to suitability and accuracy (this particularly for courses offered to minors).

At the very least, courses should contain: In addition, Seminars and Conferences might be offered which employ sessions employing multimedia-clips, powerpoints, with accompanying interactive student/seminar/student sessions. The sessions would be offered as streams, or as downloads. These would be topical short-subjects which might take place in as short a period as an hour or two. This particular construct might also be used to simulate attendance at a lecture or presentation one might experience in the realworld, and multiple sessions of this nature might be assembled to form a complete course.

A WikiUniversity can offer the following Convenience and Flexibility:

One can open the mind to treasures or trash, A Wiki University can lead one toward the first.
Contributions:

DonaldNoyes 200707281657 ChrisGarrod
Other Possibilities which allow Events to take place in the WikiNow:
CategoryEducation
EditText of this page (last edited March 31, 2009)
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