Old-fashioned English classes are making a modern transformation.

Penn State recently began an online Web logging system for English 15 (Rhetoric and Composition) and English 202 (Effective Writing) classes.

This is the first semester that English classes have the option of using wikis. This process was piloted in select classrooms for the two courses for two years, Doyle said.

The system contains wikis, which are essentially Web pages that can be edited by anyone, Composition Director Rich Doyle said. "It's open to the entire planet," he said.

The program is being used in more than 50 sections of the classes, and each class recommends students use it five times a week. By posting anonymous entries online, students can get the distance they need and become more comfortable with the class structure and their peers, Doyle said.

"It is revolutionizing the way writing is being taught," English 15 instructor Jessica Jones said.

But Doyle explained that some students prefer not to use the program for a number of reasons.

"I don't think it's helpful and I'm not good at computers," Heather Sharkey (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. "If we just had a writing journal I could and would write much more."

In addition to posting entries, students can read and review their classmates' work. Students also have the power, through the wiki system, to control the class. Jones said the program is set up as a democratic outlet so anyone with access can change the syllabus, edit classmates' work and post their opinions.

Alex Scanlon (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said she doesn't use wiki for anything beyond posting her blogs.

Doyle, who has worked with wikis for five years, said he has seen students come together as a class, and in his experience it has worked to help students unite with others around the world.

"Students really form a sense of community and write much more," he said.

Doyle said some students who have used the wikis have written more than 100 pages of text during a semester. The best way to teach writing, he said, is to have students write more and to allow them access to feedback from peers and others.

Jones said students are writing for a larger audience by using the wikis.

Doyle said wikis are useful beyond the classroom because students can use the online source for other classes while continuing their blogging habits.

Penn State is working to expand the wiki program to help business majors improve their writing skills for the real world, he added. "We want to offer the best education in composition and rhetoric in the country," Doyle said. "All Penn State students should be successful when they go into the world."

Because wikis allow learning and teaching to continue outside of the classroom, time restrictions are no longer a problem, Doyle said.

"It's a neat format for a message board and pretty useful," said Andy Pool (freshman-psychology). "It is a good way for teachers to communicate with their students and for the students to communicate with each other."

One of wiki's drawbacks is the fact that outsiders can post links and advertisements, causing wiki owners to have to clean their online space regularly to avoid "spam." The wikis are a free service for the university.

"Books won't disappear all together, but putting the readings and assignments online is free," Doyle said.