Wikis and the Wikis and the classroomclassroom

““Imagine a world in which every Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is single person on the planet is

given free access to the sum of all given free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That’s what human knowledge. That’s what

we’re doing.”we’re doing.”

--Jimmy Wales, --Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia founder (Wales, 2004)Wikipedia founder (Wales, 2004)

IndexIndex

1.1. What is a Wiki?What is a Wiki?

2.2. Wikipedia: Why should we allow it in Wikipedia: Why should we allow it in the classroom?the classroom?

3.3. How to create your own Wiki pageHow to create your own Wiki page

4.4. Ideas for your classroomIdeas for your classroom

5.5. Bibliography Bibliography

I. What is a “Wiki”?I. What is a “Wiki”?

A website that contains information A website that contains information that anyone can edit at any time. that anyone can edit at any time. This means that we can keep editing This means that we can keep editing and changing a Wiki to make it and changing a Wiki to make it better and fill the page with more better and fill the page with more information.information.

It’s a tool that can be utilized for It’s a tool that can be utilized for collaboration between various groups collaboration between various groups and people.and people.

II. Wikipedia:II. Wikipedia:Why should we allow it in the Why should we allow it in the

classroom?classroom? Students are already utilizing Wikipedia Students are already utilizing Wikipedia

as resources, so it is our job as teachers as resources, so it is our job as teachers to teach students how to properly use to teach students how to properly use this tool. this tool.

Wikipedia is becoming a trusted source Wikipedia is becoming a trusted source cited by various sources and scholars.cited by various sources and scholars.

Students have a lot to learn in the Students have a lot to learn in the process of using Wikipedia or other wikis.process of using Wikipedia or other wikis.

III. How to create your own Wiki III. How to create your own Wiki pagepage

Start by going to the Start by going to the http://http://www.wikispaces.comwww.wikispaces.com// site. site.

Fill out the form on the above link: create an Fill out the form on the above link: create an username, password and type your e-mail.username, password and type your e-mail.

Give your Wiki name (no spaces allowed), select Give your Wiki name (no spaces allowed), select the type of Wiki you want (most educators choose the type of Wiki you want (most educators choose “Protected”), and choose the “Educational “Protected”), and choose the “Educational Purposes” box.Purposes” box.

The first page that pops up is a “Getting Started” The first page that pops up is a “Getting Started” Page which gives you various tutorials on how to Page which gives you various tutorials on how to work with your Wiki. You can skip this page and work with your Wiki. You can skip this page and always come back to it through the HELP icon. always come back to it through the HELP icon.

Now it’s time to Edit your page. Here is where Now it’s time to Edit your page. Here is where you can start writing information and others can you can start writing information and others can

edit it later on. Click on the “EDIT THIS PAGE” ICONedit it later on. Click on the “EDIT THIS PAGE” ICON

Click on the HISTORY icon to view Click on the HISTORY icon to view who has made changes and what who has made changes and what changes have been made to your changes have been made to your page.page.

Through the DISCUSSION icon, you and your Through the DISCUSSION icon, you and your students can reflect on what has been written on students can reflect on what has been written on the Wiki page thus far…What information should or the Wiki page thus far…What information should or should not be part of your page.should not be part of your page.

IV. Ideas for your classroomIV. Ideas for your classroomClass Discussions (any subject): Begin a discussion in Class Discussions (any subject): Begin a discussion in your class, for example in an English class one could your class, for example in an English class one could ask “What are modern examples of ask “What are modern examples of books/movies/songs inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo books/movies/songs inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?” Begin a Wiki discussion where not only and Juliet?” Begin a Wiki discussion where not only your class joins, but other classes and teachers your class joins, but other classes and teachers studying the same subject join and edit the discussion studying the same subject join and edit the discussion as well. (NJCCCS: 9.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5)as well. (NJCCCS: 9.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5) Interdisciplinary Classes (any subjects): Two different Interdisciplinary Classes (any subjects): Two different subjects and teachers can join to create one Wiki. For subjects and teachers can join to create one Wiki. For example one can start a Wiki page on Cinco de Mayo example one can start a Wiki page on Cinco de Mayo and students studying Mexico in history can write and students studying Mexico in history can write about it from a historical point of view and students about it from a historical point of view and students from a Spanish class can write about it from a cultural from a Spanish class can write about it from a cultural point of view. (NJCCCS: 7.1, 7.2, 6.1.12A, 9.1)point of view. (NJCCCS: 7.1, 7.2, 6.1.12A, 9.1)Peer Editing (any subjects): Have your students post Peer Editing (any subjects): Have your students post their essays/projects on the class Wiki page and have their essays/projects on the class Wiki page and have each other peer edit one another’s essays/projects. each other peer edit one another’s essays/projects. (NJCCCS: 9.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5)(NJCCCS: 9.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.5)

Research Paper Wiki style (most subjects): Instead Research Paper Wiki style (most subjects): Instead of your students using Wikipedia or another Wiki of your students using Wikipedia or another Wiki page as part of their research, have your students page as part of their research, have your students addadd their research to a Wiki page and observe how their research to a Wiki page and observe how that information gets edited. (NJCCCS: 9.1, 3.5, 8.1, that information gets edited. (NJCCCS: 9.1, 3.5, 8.1, 8.2)8.2)Wiki Communications (World Language): Connect Wiki Communications (World Language): Connect with a teacher from a country that speaks the target with a teacher from a country that speaks the target language and have the students exchange language and have the students exchange information about each other’s cultures through a information about each other’s cultures through a shared Wiki page.(NJCCCS: 7.1, 7.2, 9.1)shared Wiki page.(NJCCCS: 7.1, 7.2, 9.1)AP Wiki (AP classes): Create a page for your AP AP Wiki (AP classes): Create a page for your AP students where they can add and change students where they can add and change information that could be found in the AP exam. information that could be found in the AP exam. Wiki Teacher (teacher oriented): Teachers can form Wiki Teacher (teacher oriented): Teachers can form a Wiki page where they can share ideas and lesson a Wiki page where they can share ideas and lesson plans on the subjects they teach.plans on the subjects they teach.

BibliographyBibliography

Richardson, Will (2009). Richardson, Will (2009). Blogs, Wikis, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms 2for Classrooms 2ndnd ed ed. California: Corwin . California: Corwin PressPress