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Week 4: Wikis

July 9-16

1. Definition of a Wiki:

Wiki is Hawaiian for “quick.” A wiki is a web page where information can be added and edited by a collective group rather easily. Editing is done through a web browser and can be limited to members of the site or to anyone who visits. Pages can also be “un-edited” by reverting back to a previous version with the click of a button. To get a better understanding of what the functionality of a wiki is, watch this video from “Common Craft:”

If you are having trouble with the video loading – here is a direct link to the youtube site: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY[/youtube]

2. Reasons to have a Wiki:

Wikis are easy to use, allow for organizing tasks across space, make publishing work accessible for everyone, allow for collaboration, everyone can edit, refine or clarify points on the page. Wikis are being used in education as:

  • Story Starters – round robin writing
  • Book Creation
  • Choose Your Own Adventure
  • Collaborative Projects – info is available to everyone, even when absences occur.
  • Micropedias – class encyclopedias about a specific topic
  • Ant Farms – people/characters – whose paths cross at certain points and the reader can then click over to the new person – Point of View – example written based on the Ugly Duckling.
  • Branching Stories
  • Elaboration
  • Class Notes
  • Class/Teacher Web site
  • Committee Meeting Notes – Committee Planning Space
  • Curriculum Development Space
  • WebQuest Host page – Texas Energy - sixth grade science webquest

3. Examples of Wikis in Education:

Choose a few of the wiki examples below to see how wikis are already in use in educational settings. What ideas do they spark?

General Examples:

  1. http://21ctools.wikispaces.com/ – 21st Century Skills – a collection of video resources on various technology tools by Liz Davis.
  2. http://openpd.wikispaces.com/- OpenPD – professional development online and free.
  3. http://web2thatworks.com/index.php?title=Main_Page- Marzano and Web 2.0 tools
  4. http://socialsoftware07.wikispaces.com/Yahoo+Tools- Social Software – linked from OpenPD site
  5. http://goapes.wikispaces.com/
  6. http://teachwiki.wikispaces.com/- TeachWiki – resource on Web 2.0 and Ridgeview Technology Staff Development
  7. http://rrisd-its.wikispaces.com/ – RRISD Instructional Technology Wiki.

Elementary Examples:

  1. http://arborheights.wikispaces.com/
  2. http://middlej.pbwiki.com/
  3. http://carmanelem.pbwiki.com/
  4. http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2005/view/e_sess/5985_sess/5985
  5. http://allaboutmath.wikispaces.com/
  6. http://salutetoseuss.wikispaces.com/- Salute to Seuss – an online project for any Pre-K to 6th grade classroom

Secondary Examples:

  1. http://mathtips.wikispaces.com/ – Created pages for the most commonly missed math TAKS questions from the 8th grade test.
  2. Literature Circles using Wikis – http://mrsmccaslin06.wikispaces.com/Literature_Circles
  3. http://rightswebquest.wikispaces.com/
  4. http://welcometotheworld.wikispaces.com/
  5. The Crucible: http://wtchfm.wikispaces.com/
  6. HS Online Collaborative Writing : http://schools.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page
  7. Westwood Schools – http://westwood.wikispaces.com/
  8. http://misstarvin.wetpaint.com/?t=anon – World History – first semester curriculum through 1300.
  9. http://welkerswikinomics.wetpaint.com/?t=anon- Welker’s Wikinomics Page – winner of the Edublogs award

4. Assignment:

  1. Complete comments on 3 other blogs – see Weekly Comment Rotatin.
  2. Develop a personal definition of a wiki on your blog.
  3. Choose 3 of the wikis listed above to review in your blog -
    • list the name of the wiki
    • what is the purpose of the wiki
    • how you could use that idea in your job. Think of your classroom and your collaboration with other professionals.
  4. Watch the wikispaces tutorial videos:
  5. Visit the class wiki – http://introweb2.wikispaces.com/
  6. Create an account on wikispaces if you haven’t already done so – http://www.wikispaces.com/- you do NOT have to create a wikispace at this time, just an user account.
  7. Request to join the class wiki page. By having people join the space, you can limit who can change the content, and can track who changed what.
    • To join the space – go to http://introweb2.wikispaces.com/ – and click on “Join this Space” in the left hand corner. (Once you have requested membership you will have to wait until approval. We will try to monitor this and get everyone in as soon as possible, but don’t wait until the last minute to complete this step!)
  8. Add to the class wiki – http://introweb2.wikispaces.com/- The purpose of this week’s assignment is to expose you to how wikis work. On the class wiki there are several different pages to represent different ways wikis are being used in education. Please visit each page, read the directions and make a contribution to the page.
  9. Subscribe to the class wiki. Wikis can be subscribed to with an rss reader so you will be notified whenever a change is made. To subscribe to a wiki through your RSS reader:
    • On wikispaces – click on the “Notify Me” tab
    • Two choices are page feed and page discussions – to monitor page edits – click on the RSS icon for page feed.
    • The feed page will open – copy the URL from the web page that opens and add it into your RSS reader (Netvibes, Pageflakes, Google Reader, etc)
  10. Complete Reflections on your own learning blog.
    • What did you learn?
    • How will you use what you have learned?
    • How did you feel about this tool?
    • What do you not want to forget about this tool?
    • How can this be used in the classroom or in your educational role?
    • Should you use this in the classroom or your educational role?
    • What questions do you still have about this tool?

4b. Optional Assignment: If you are ready to make a wiki of your own and want to try it out:

  1. Decide on a plan and purpose for a wiki in your area – Suggestions: Teaching Ideas, Communication, collaboration, staff development, team wiki page, department wiki page, Campus Improvement Plans, Staff Meetings, I have/I need space.
  2. Things to consider for your wiki:
    • Will it be open for anyone to edit or open for editing by members only?
    • Will it be open for anyone to read or only visible for members only?
    • Is it a long term project/resource or a short term resource? What will happen to the space once the project is over? Who will continue to monitor it?
    • Who will the members be? If students are members, wikispaces will upload member names for you without having to supply an email account. Another option could be a generic login that you create. Note – if students have account they can and will message each other through the space. Keep this in mind when using the system.
  3. Start a wiki of your own – you can team with others in the class on a wiki.
  4. Share your wiki with the class by leaving the url and a short description of the purpose of your wiki in the comment section.

5. Software/ Hardware Used in This Module:

6. Supplemental Reading:

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them in the comment section.

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By Robin Young – July 9, 2008

Happy Fourth of July

We would like to wish you a happy July 4th and enjoy the next week off! Thank you for all your hard work so far in this pilot course.  The next assignment takes a venture away from blogs and looks into the world of wikis.  We’ll see everyone back here July 9th.

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By Robin Young – July 2, 2008