A Wiki Guide for TeachersA Wiki Guide for Teachers

by Colleen Finnegan

What is a Wiki?What is a Wiki?

Wiki is derived from the Hawaiian word Wiki is derived from the Hawaiian word “wiki-wiki”, which means quick“wiki-wiki”, which means quick

It is a web site that allows users to add It is a web site that allows users to add and edit content. In essence, wikis are and edit content. In essence, wikis are online writing spaces that encourage online writing spaces that encourage everyone to contributeeveryone to contribute

What are the Educational Benefits?What are the Educational Benefits?

Promotes asynchronous communication and Promotes asynchronous communication and collaborationcollaboration

Emphasizes student-centered learningEmphasizes student-centered learning Encourages socially constructed knowledgeEncourages socially constructed knowledge Facilitates teamworkFacilitates teamwork Aids reading and writing skillsAids reading and writing skills Great motivational toolGreat motivational tool Advocates creativityAdvocates creativity

How Can Wikis Be Used in the How Can Wikis Be Used in the Classroom?Classroom?

Create e-portfolios of class workCreate e-portfolios of class work Online journalsOnline journals Debate topicsDebate topics Collaborative projectsCollaborative projects Share resources and class notesShare resources and class notes Distribute student materialsDistribute student materials

Issues in Wiki UseIssues in Wiki Use

““Open editing” allows anyone to alter, add, Open editing” allows anyone to alter, add, or delete information on the site. or delete information on the site. Inappropriate content or vandalism could Inappropriate content or vandalism could be a problembe a problem

Safety concerns regarding students’ Safety concerns regarding students’ personal informationpersonal information

Accuracy of informationAccuracy of information

Solutions and ConsiderationsSolutions and Considerations

You can decide the security levels for your wiki. You can decide the security levels for your wiki. It can be set to only allow authorized members It can be set to only allow authorized members of your group to read or modify contentof your group to read or modify content

Personal information, such as full names and Personal information, such as full names and addresses should not be publishedaddresses should not be published

Wikis should be monitored for accuracy and Wikis should be monitored for accuracy and inappropriate contentinappropriate content

Information that was modified or deleted can be Information that was modified or deleted can be easily restoredeasily restored

How Do You Create a Wiki?How Do You Create a Wiki?

The main educational wiki providers The main educational wiki providers are Wikispaces, PBwiki, and Wetpaintare Wikispaces, PBwiki, and Wetpaint

The process is quick and easy. Enter your The process is quick and easy. Enter your name, password, e-mail address, and name, password, e-mail address, and select wiki type “education.”select wiki type “education.”

PBwiki SetupPBwiki Setup

Wiki Provider ResourcesWiki Provider Resources

Wetpaint’sWetpaint’s wikiswikis in education site in education site which which has links to teacher wikis has links to teacher wikis

Wikispaces for teachers guide: Wikispaces for teachers guide: PowerPoint tutorial illustrating how to use PowerPoint tutorial illustrating how to use wikispaceswikispaces

PBwiki 2.0 for education demo: video that PBwiki 2.0 for education demo: video that shows you how to set up and use your shows you how to set up and use your online classroom through PBwikisonline classroom through PBwikis

How to Introduce Wikis to Your How to Introduce Wikis to Your StudentsStudents

Have parents and students sign an acceptable Have parents and students sign an acceptable use policy. use policy.

Materials should be supplied to parents Materials should be supplied to parents explaining what a wiki is and what it will be used explaining what a wiki is and what it will be used for in classfor in class

Get parental permissionGet parental permission Conduct a lesson on digital citizenshipConduct a lesson on digital citizenship Discuss social responsibility and accountabilityDiscuss social responsibility and accountability Outline netiquette guidelinesOutline netiquette guidelines

Wiki Projects – Writing a StoryWiki Projects – Writing a Story

Students can write a story about a topic Students can write a story about a topic discussed in class. They each contribute discussed in class. They each contribute to the story and at the end it will be to the story and at the end it will be printed. Students may add illustrations or printed. Students may add illustrations or pictures. Satisfies NJ CCCS 3.2:A.9, pictures. Satisfies NJ CCCS 3.2:A.9, 3.2:A.10, and 8.1:A.33.2:A.10, and 8.1:A.3

Wiki Projects – Electronic PortfoliosWiki Projects – Electronic Portfolios

Have students publish their school work Have students publish their school work online. Editing and feedback are online. Editing and feedback are encouraged to improve writing skills. encouraged to improve writing skills. Satisfies NJ CCCS 3.2:A.9, 3.2:A.10, Satisfies NJ CCCS 3.2:A.9, 3.2:A.10, 8.1:A.3, and 8.1:A.88.1:A.3, and 8.1:A.8

Wiki Projects – Travel GuideWiki Projects – Travel Guide

Students create a travel guide to a country Students create a travel guide to a country they are learning about in class and they are learning about in class and publish it on the class wiki. Research will publish it on the class wiki. Research will be conducted online. The guide should be conducted online. The guide should include tourist sites, cultures, foods, include tourist sites, cultures, foods, pictures, and maps. Satisfies NJ CCCS pictures, and maps. Satisfies NJ CCCS 8.1:B.6 and 8.1:B.78.1:B.6 and 8.1:B.7

Wiki Projects – AnimalsWiki Projects – Animals

Students gather information from Students gather information from electronic and print resources about electronic and print resources about animals indigenous to their state. animals indigenous to their state. Students must include pictures and Students must include pictures and discuss interesting facts. Satisfies NJ discuss interesting facts. Satisfies NJ CCCS 8.1:B.6 and 8.1:B.7CCCS 8.1:B.6 and 8.1:B.7

Wiki Projects – PresidentsWiki Projects – Presidents

Students work in groups to gather and Students work in groups to gather and publish information on presidential figures. publish information on presidential figures. Each group is assigned a president they Each group is assigned a president they are learning about in class. Report should are learning about in class. Report should include biographical information and include biographical information and important events during the presidency. important events during the presidency. Photos, links to historical documents, and Photos, links to historical documents, and speeches should be added. Satisfies NJ speeches should be added. Satisfies NJ CCCS 8.1:B.6 and 8.1:B.7CCCS 8.1:B.6 and 8.1:B.7

Sample K-12 Classroom WikisSample K-12 Classroom Wikis

Flat classroom project – Collaborative Flat classroom project – Collaborative project that connects students from all project that connects students from all over the worldover the world

List of educational wikis from wikispaces – List of educational wikis from wikispaces – Includes wiki name and description, Includes wiki name and description, teacher identification, and school locationteacher identification, and school location

Welker’s Wikinomics – Award winning Welker’s Wikinomics – Award winning Economics students’ wikiEconomics students’ wiki