Wiki-Wikity-Wikity Whack

I love the collaborative spirit of wikis...as a teacher of writing, I love to put students together to create ideas using words developed from thoughts pulled, prodded, and blended from within. In some ways, it appears nearly spiritual at its essence. Watching ideas percolate and then expand into cognitive, rational expression is a powerful learning experience that I get to witness at times. Prior to discovering wikis, this was a cumbersome process, but wikis provide a platform that enables the creativity and promotes the sense of oneness in collaboration. I have used on several occasions a wiki from wikispaces.com to promote this learning. I have found that the platform does not guarantee this happens...the dynamic of the group, coupled with appropriate pressuring activities are essential aspects of the process that cannot be skipped. I have made this mistake before...need to remember their importance to the process that wikis promote.