Ko_Erick

=Contributions:=
 * November 16, 2006 - Completed Analysis & Reflection Part I
 * November 16, 2006 - Completed Analysis & Reflection Part II
 * November 23, 2006 - Edited and added content to Facebook; added "Groups" section and a picture example of the "Groups" section
 * November 23, 2006 - Edited and added content to Console Wars; added an entry to the "Comments" section
 * December 4, 2006 - Edited and added content to History of Hip Hop; added paragraph about 'ethnic rappers' (last paragraph) in "History of Hip Hop" section, also added "International Hip Hop" section
 * December 5, 2006 - Created and added conent to Sir Tim Berners-Lee; added all content to date and image of Sir Tim Berners-Lee
 * December 6, 2006 - Added 2 videos to History of Hip Hop; added video under International Hip Hop: Weapon X and Last for One
 * December 6, 2006 - Completed Analysis & Reflection Part III
 * December 6, 2006 - Added X-Men section and picture to Iconic Superheroes

=Analysis and Reflection=

This is actually the first time I have heard of wiki and experienced it. Before using wiki, I did not have any expectations as I was not really aware of what it was. However, throughout the semester, I learned a bit more about wiki and how it is continually edited by anyone who wishes to contribute. This is a very interesting phenomenon to me simply because this was not a common thing seen on the Internet. Expectations for myself now include improving my reserach skills as I can help contribute to communities and spaces with my input on topics. Furthermore, I can even add new topics that are not seen online. I expect to learn many things as I will read many different topics on Wiki and learn more as things are continually being updated. I believe the collaborative learning environment is a very important emerging concept as it acts as a online discussion. An environment where users can continually input their own knowledge or add to spaces will not only be a new effective learning tool because a space is continually updated, but it also encourages users to research and add to existing spaces or branch out and create new topics. As a user, I hope to contribute my existing knowledge and also research on spaces and topics that interest me.

When choosing which postings to change or contribute, I look for topics that interest me. If topics are interesting, I do some outside research to learn more. I also look for information that the postings may not have that I may already know. I think that adding, editing or rearranging other people's work is acceptable as long as they know about it. I often help colleagues at school by editing their essays for them. While doing this, I often offer possibles edits to their paper that they can choose to add onto their paper. However, wiki is a different type of environment because it is a collaborative environment. Users are already aware that other users may add or edit more information. Therefore, as long as no one is purposely trying to negatively interrupt the flow of information, the contribution of information on posts are a positive thing.

There were not many challenges I had faced while using the wiki. One thing I found difficult was coping with the fact that anythign I would post could be deleted or changed into something I did not intend to say. I have come across some situations where a picture was put up by one user, but then taken down by another user who would put their own picture up, disregarding the previous users contribution. There is no officlal way to ensure the safety of your information or to ensure that the new information added would be useful. Despite this fact, the continual updates and changes to the wikis were very interesting in that I felt as if I would learn something new on the same page on a weekly basis because of the changes constantly going on. Videos, pictures and text would be constantly added to reinforce knowledge and information on a page. It was overall a great learning experience. In my opinion the freedom of editing on wikispaces are both beneficial and a limitation, it is a double edged sword. One suggestion I have would be for the creator of the wiki to have overall power of the page. Contributions could be made by another user, however it would have to go through a screening process by the creator. This may not be the best way since it puts the control of knowledge back to one person. However, some sort of screening system should be implemented to prevent potential chaos.