Using wikis to achieve learning objectives

In this section, we will discuss the importance of using the course outcomes and learning objectives to make decisions about course content, delivery mode, and instructional strategy. Course outcomes and unit-level learning objectives help arrange a course by giving it a theme. As a useful organizing tool, a learning objective must not only be specific but also broad enough to apply to a variety of topics. Learning objectives generally encompass the big ideas in the course. Keep in mind that an idea is not necessarily a big idea. A big idea must enable the student to organize information and find relationships among the information learned during a course. At its best, a big idea also helps the student to relate what is learned in the course to his/her own life. For example, a big idea in a course called Survey of American Literature could be described by this question: What does it mean to be an American? Then, the wiki could use examples from...