Videos

 

1. Screencast on Wikis - John Udell

2. Wikipedia Founder - Ted Talks

 

What is a Wiki?

 

A wiki is a type of free on-line writing space that allows users to add, modify and update its pages. If something is missing or incorrect in a wiki and permissions allow you to edit the wiki, you can easily add your thoughts or make changes to the wiki. It is essientially a fully editable web site.

• Ward Cunningham used the word "wiki" to describe the collaborative tool he developed. Wikis were named for the "Wiki-Wiki" or a Hawaiian adjective for "quick"
• Anyone can post material without knowing HTML or a programming language.
• The most famous wiki is the on-line encyclopedia Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WikiPedia
• Wikis are often referred to as "collaborative web sites." People who contribute to a wiki understand that their words may be deleted or changed by others.
• The last draft of a wiki is given the highest importance. Each time the text has been changed a new version is saved. The writing process and changes to the text can be observed through these older versions.
• Wikis offer the ability to discuss changes before they are actually made, and track who editted what and when.
• The process is the product. Meaning is developed and guided out of the social interactions at the point where text is created.

 

One of the most obvious benefits of using a wiki is the ability to offer a quick way to collaborate textually, while creating a content rich web site. Where the knowledge of the group is greater than an individual, and the end product is the result of the groups interactions.

 

Quick Ideas Around Classroom Uses of Wikis

1. Use for student projects where group members need to contribute at different times and from geographically diverse locations.
2. Use for collaborating on ideas and organizing documents and resources from individuals and groups of students.
3. Use as a presentation tool where those who attend a workshop can contribute to future versions of the workshop.
4. As a group research project for a specific idea.
5. Manage school and classroom documents.
6. Use as a collaborative handout for students.
7. Writing: student created books and journaling. (i.e. Wikibooks)
8. Create and maintain a classroom FAQ
9. As a classroom discussion and debate area.
10. A place to aggregate web resources.
11. Choose a topic on Wikipedia, break the topic into facts, students verify the facts using their information literacy skills, and make changes accordingly (Citing sources).

 

Where To Get A Wiki

 

Teachers can use wikis in their classrooms, offer open and/or password protected wikis with different levels of customization and extendibility. Some of these wikis are free others offer paid features.

A few examples are: [1], PeanutButterWiki, SeedWiki, Wikia, and Wikispaces.

 

Wikispaces and PeanutButterWiki also offers advertising free wikis for educators.

 

Activity One

 

Examine the following http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volcanos

 

1. Images that are posted on Wikipedia are copyright free.

2. Most well developed articles have a Table of Contents. Simple navigation.

3. Things are very linky. The article constantly links itself to related information.

4. Articles have tags. This example asks people to further develop the section on "Rhine Graben".

5. Citing the resources used in this article at the bottom. Follow things toward the primary source.

6. External links. More information.

 

Activity Two

 

Going even deeper.

 

1. Switching languages. Start in English, switch to Spanish, switch to Chinese.

2. Cite this article. Yep, you can. But, but...I'm not supposed to use Wikipedia for research?!?! Another thing that World Book can't do.

3. Printable version. Hey. It's all free. You don't need a lab of computers. Make copies! http://www.creativecommons.com

4. Discussion page. This is where things are discussed. While the discussion page behind Toronto Ontario probably isn't that interesting, try checking out the Discussion Page behind George Bush.

5. History page. See how the article has evolved.

 

Activity Three

 

Explore wikipedia and keep notes on what you find interesting, confusing, ...

 

Try searching on a few of these topics...

• Cities, Provinces, Countries
• Animals. Try Certain Breeds of That Animal.
• Fruits, Vegetables, Flowers, Food
• Biographies of Famous People
• Current Events
• Movies

 

What did you find?

Where do you see this fitting in your classroom?

Is there anything out there you found to be incorrect, controversial, or questionable?

 

Activity Four

 

Setting up your own wiki on pbwiki.com

 

A little overview from a few educators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Resources

 

• Teaching Hacks Wiki Resources

   

• Criticism of Wikipedia on Wikipedia (Encyclopædia Britannica doesn't have an entry on it)
• Errors in the Encyclopædia Britannica on Wikipedia
• Will Wikipedia Mean the End Of Traditional Encyclopedias? Wall Street Journal Online

 

 

 

References

 

Original activities based on the wiki The Sum of All Knowledge - Free which has a Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike Non-Commercial 3.0 License.