The Wonderful World of Wikis

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The Wonderful World of Wikis

• By Emily Biolsi, Deb Burrell, and Michele Ricci
• Stockbridge Central School

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Presentation Overview

• What is a wiki?
• Wikis in Plain English
• Why wiki?
• Educational uses
• How to create a wiki
• Examples
• What Teachers Have to say About Wikis
• Resources

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What in the World is a Wiki?

• A collaborative website whose content can be
  edited by anyone who has access to it. (The
  American Heritage Dictionary 2004)
• Tracks history of revisions
• Revisions saved as current version
• Earlier versions can be recalled
• Wiki-Wiki means quick in Hawaiian

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Common Craft explains

• Wikis in Plain English
• basics
• benefits
• group collaboration
• Edit, write, link, save
• video clip

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Why Wiki?

• Engagement
• Motivation
• Authentic experience
• Collaboration
• Problem Solving
• Critical Thinking

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Wikis also

• Develop a supportive learning community
• Increase volume of student writing
• Showcase student work through a safe online
  environment
• Provide ongoing dialogue between teacher and
  students
• Offer teacher friendly, no-hassle, simple set-up
  and management accessible anywhere anytime

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So how could I use a wiki in my classroom?

• Book analysis and responses
• Sharing class notes
• Creating schedules
• Read aloud book dialogue
• Research content
• Collaborative reports
• Online literature groups and circles
• Posting, reading, and constructively commenting
  on classmates writing to further learning

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Or you could

• Reflect on articles and content
• Student FAQ page on current content/unit/projects
• Share work with parents
• Post assignments
• Survey and data collection
• Problem solve collaboratively
• Post step-by-step mathematical procedures
• Describe the scientific processes
• Create a glossary of terms, vocabulary lists
• Create virtual tours

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Things to Consider

• Educational goals
• Wiki host and management
• Access (to tech and of users)
• Guidelines (Computer use policy)
• Introducing students/families to wiki

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Beginning the Build How do I get started?

• Choose a Wiki Farm
• www.pbworks.com (previously pbwiki.com)
• www.wikispaces.com
• www.wetpaint.com
• Need help choosing?
• www.wikimatrix.org
• Compares elements of different wiki servers

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Basic Steps for Creating a Wiki using PBWorks

• www.pbworks.com
• Sign Up
• Choose plan - Free
• Complete Sign Up
• Choose Security Settings
• Create a Workspace
• Go to Settings

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Wikis in Action

• www.msbiolsi.pbworks.com (5/6 classroom)
• www.msbirdsall.pbworks.com (1/2 classroom)
• www.ah-bon-french.wikispaces.com (middle school
  foreign language)
• http//presidentialelection.wikispaces.com/ (high
  school social studies)
• http//sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com/ (9th gr.
  Asian History)

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Hmm still wondering what teachers say?

• Pbwiki Presents What is a Wiki?
• Let's watch...

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Resources

• www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/
• Wiki Walk-Through basic overview and ideas for
  use
• http//teachersfirst.wikispaces.com/
• Learn more about wikis in education
• http//Educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examplesof
  educationalwikis
• Examples of classroom wikis elementary through
  secondary