Wikispaces

WelcomeWikispaces in K–12 Education

[3/30/2011]

• Welcome• Read-only Web v. Read/Write Web• Wikis• Getting Started with Wikispaces• Wrap-up and Q&A

Welcome Activity1. What is the read/write web?2. What is a wiki?3. What do these things mean for you and your students?4. Why are we here?

Read-only Web• Powerful resource for educators and students, but…• Information moves from publishers to consumers• Information cannot be edited• One-way Web (Web 1.0)

Read/Write Web• It is now as easy to create as it is to consume• Anyone can publish, share, and change information online• Two-way Web (Web 2.0)• This is changing our world!

Wikis• A wiki is a website that anyone can edit.• If you can use a word processor, you can use a wiki!• Visitors can see a history of changes and revert to earlier versions.• Visitors can discuss the page in a threaded forum.

Wikipedia• Online encyclopedia• Collaboratively authored and edited• Over 1 million users worldwide• Over 1 million articles in English• Great resource, but…• Use with caution

Educational Wikis• Collaboratively authored class texts• Writing projects• Group projects• Sharing resources• Grade level teams• Subject area teams• Professional development• Professional Learning Communities (PLC)• e-Portfolios• Clubs, PTAs, and events• Mapping of concepts, brainstorming• Presentation tools

Activity 1: Define an Educational Wiki• Define an educational wiki for based on the following criteria:

1. What is a basic description of the wiki?2. Who is the intended audience for the wiki and what would they

get out of it?3. Who are the intended contributors for the wiki and what would

they contribute?4. How does the wiki accomplish something that only a wiki can

accomplish?5. How could you adapt this a model for your own work?

Activity 2: Create Your Own Wiki• http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers/• Create an Account (if you haven't already)• Create a Wiki

• Edit This Page• Discussion• History• Notifications• Create a New Page• Edit Navigation• Manage Wiki

• My Account• Create more wikis!

Benefits• Engagement and motivation• Context-embedded learning• Inquiry-driven learning• Collaborative learning• Reflection and meta-cognition• 21st-century skills

Concerns• Information literacy• Inappropriate content• Inappropriate sharing• Threats and cyber-bullying• Intellectual property• Fraud and identity theft• Stalkers and predators• Lack of understanding

Reflection Activity1. What is the most important thing you learned today?2. What are your next steps for using wikis in your work?3. What do you want to learn more about?

Q&A

Go ahead, ask me anything.