7 Components: the Function Pages - Developers

tops, making it all the easier for them to withdraw from the discussion.
This may be interpreted by the other participants as a lack of
respect, since they are not sure whether the minute taker is taking
part in the discussion or not. Thirdly, we must not forget the power
of formulation. As soon as more than just the facts are recorded, it
has a great influence on the course of the discussion and the direction
of thoughts. In contrast to other moderation techniques, the
other participants cannot directly influence the visuals. The minute
taker may thus cause some individuals to feel insecure. Fourthly,
because wikis are not WYSIWYG systems, they are not suitable for
beamer presentations of this sort. 12
Möller sees great potential in the development of tools enabling
simultaneous editing of texts in real time. 13 On the other hand, one
of the great advantages of wiki technology seems to be the temporal
equalization of discussion processes. Basically, both occur in group
processes: acceleration and time pressure, as well as the desire for
more time to expand certain ideas. 14 It has been observed that many
Wikians do not simply start writing, but first do research and organize
their thoughts. Kuhlen sees in “asynchronous communication forums”
the advantage that a climate of balanced and informationally
secure communication can emerge: “Not every question has to be
answered immediately. The advantage of greater rationality is to be
generally assessed higher than the presumable loss of spontaneity in
the synchronous medium with its direct reactive communication
styles. However, the success of asynchronous communication processes
is largely dependent upon good moderation. This is especially
true in learning environments where moderation performance is continually
necessary, such as creating incentives, generating outlines
and summaries, offering orientation aids and providing feedback for
knowledge assessment.” 15 Kuhlen's reference to asynchronous
communication processes and learning environments, however, sees
the moderator, who, among other tasks, must create incentives with
sophisticated seminar designs, as the central figure. In deviation
thereof, we have just presented our assessment of the role of moderator.
Ideally, that person should not be a jack-of-all-trades, whose
12
There is a very useful SlideShowPlugin for presentations; see Chapter
21.3.
13
Möller 2005, 200f.
14
Writings on large group processes repeatedly state that such processes
can only be initiated and be capable of working out solutions
under enormous time and problem constraints.
15
Kuhlen 2004.
18.3 Keeping a Log with Wikis
Asynchronous
or synchronous?
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