Wikis+SU2012



If you are reading this sentence, congratulations - you are already successfully using a Wiki!


 * WHAT'S A WIKI? **

//A// //wiki is a Web site where anyone can edit anything anytime they want,// (Richardson, 55).

A wiki is a website that is open to the public not only to view, but to edit. Although it is possible to limit who contributes, in the purest sense of the term, a wiki can be edited by anyone, at anytime. This might sound chaotic and like a nightmare regarding the quality control of information; however, time tested wiki pages like [|Wikipedia.org] have shown that even if deviants delete content or insert erroneous information, their errors are quickly corrected by others.


 * WHY SHOULD I CARE? **

//Wikipedia is one of the most important websites for educators to understand. It represents the potential for collaboration on the Web,// (Richardson, 56).

Wikis have tremendous potential to help us both as educators and individuals of the 21st century. Wikis are an efficient way to share information with others and are easy to use. As a result, wikis are popping up all over the place! Wikis are now being used by major corporations, universities, communities and in classrooms around the world. When using wikis in the classroom, students gain valuable skills such as collaborating with others and negotiating meaning to arrive at a final product. Today's global work environment necessitates group effort when creating content, and students should learn as early as possible to be proficient at participating in groups. They also gain a sense of ownership by producing content shared on the web.


 * HOW DO THEY WORK? **

// The word wiki is a short form of the Hawaiian wiki-wiki, which means "quick", // (Richardson, 55) //. //

Again, wikis were made to be extremely user-friendly and easy. Once you've arrived at a wiki page, you can begin reviewing information and adding your own. Every wiki page will have these three core functions:

1. **Edit** - At the top of every wiki page should be a link that reads "Edit". After clicking this link, the user can then begin modifying material on the page. Press "save" in the top left to share your work. 2. **Page History** - This is a crucial feature of wikis. A "Page History" link allows users to view what changes were made to the website, when they were made, and by whom. This is an excellent feature with regard to quality control; for instance, if some meatball comes along and messes with the website, deleting content or uploading erroneous information, the next user can see when those changes occurred, and simply revert back to the most appropriate, recent revision. 3. **Discussion**- Although wikis are not as good as blogs in carrying out online discussions, a "Discussion" or "Comment" link can be used so users can reflect on the website or make notes. Often this feature is used as individuals collaborate to publicize the most accurate information possible.




 * IDEAS FOR YOUR CLASSROOM**

// The collaborative environment that wikis facilitate can teach students much about how to work with others, how to create community, and how to operate in a world where the creation of knowledge and information is more and more becoming a group effort, // (Richardson, 69).

If you are considering using a wiki in your classroom, Richardson suggests starting at Wikispaces homepage where there is information about starting a wiki, webinars, and blogs to facilitate your creation.
 * **Class Wiki Page** - Many teachers have used wikis to communicate course objectives, upload documents such as a syllabus, and even collect student assignments.
 * **Wiki Projects** - Students can work collaboratively with one another, or even with students around the world, to create a product that is housed on the wiki. For instance, students could compose research papers, update online journals, or upload Power Points that they did for class.
 * **Edit Existing Wikis** - Countless wikis already exist that students might contribute to. After delving into a topic and becoming experts, students could then edit a public wiki and observe their post to see if it gets revised by anyone else later on.
 * **Notes-From-Class Wikis** - Students can build a wiki based upon notes that they take from class based on a syllabus that the teacher provides. Students can edit other students' notes to add more to a topic or remove incorrect information.
 * **Study Guide for End of Year Exam** - Another great idea is for students to update the wiki with relevant information that can help them review for an end of the year exam (like an AP test, Regents Exam, or other state test). This would be a good way to review with students throughout the year, and a great resource after the school year is over.
 * **Portfolio Project-** students can compile their digital work over the course of a year or a semester to create a polished and professional final product.
 * **[|Book Studies]** - Students can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of novels read in class by creating a wiki that covers elements like the book's plot, setting, characters, and themes. A book study wiki could also include content that speaks to the context of the work, such a links and images pertaining to the historical background of World War II for a book study on "The Diary of Anne Frank".
 * **Lab Reports-** Students can create dynamic lab reports for science classes that can be continually updated and edited to allow for extended laboratory discussion.


 * EXAMPLES OF WIKIS IN EDUCATION**
 * Collaboration Nation: Middle School Social Studies
 * 304Sophs: High School English
 * EXTRAORDINARY CLASSROOM WIKIS MENTIONED IN RICHARDSON**
 * [|Welker's Wikinomics] - Student created wiki used as a review for the AP Economics exam.
 * Flat Classroom Project - Collaboration between two classes from Georgia, USA and Bangladesh as a comprehensive study of "flatteners" that are mentioned in Thomas Friedman's //The World Is Flat.//
 * Mrs. Maine - A compilation of results from experiments and other classroom work that works as a text for the course.


 * BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS**

//The collaborative environment that wikis facilitate can teach students much about how to work with others, how to create community, and how to operate in a world where the creation of knowledge and information is more and more becoming a group effort,// (Richardson, 69).

In addition to encouraging the development of students' digital literacy skills, wikis also help students build the more traditional skills they are expected to acquire and master while offering them a chance to be engaged and creative.[| TeachersFirst] (an online teacher resource), outlines the benefits of the using wikis in the classroom, many of which align with the [|Common Core State Standards].


 * Connections **
 * Build greater connections between old and new knowledge by allowing student-created structure for information and ideas.
 * Build on the best of Bloom: Students use synthesis and evaluation constantly and consistently when they work on a wiki.
 * Creativity **
 * Build creativity skills, especially elaboration and fluency. Build creative flexibility in accepting others’ edits!
 * Encourage “hitch-hiking” on ideas (a type of creative elaboration and analytical thinking: If X is true, then what about Y?).
 * Introduce and reinforce the idea that a creative piece as never “done.”
 * Engagement **
 * Increase engagement of all students. [[image:driscoll-class/wiki2.jpg width="344" height="269" align="right"]]
 * In lieu of being passive “consumers” of their peers’ presentations (where they doze, doze and ignore), wiki contributors respond, respond, change, and improve.
 * Culminating projects no longer have to end!
 * Interpersonal **
 * Develop interpersonal and communication skills, especially consensus-building and compromise, in an environment where the product motivates interpersonal problem-solving.
 * Develop true teamwork skills.
 * Writing **
 * Improve the most challenging phase of writing process: revision, revision, revision!
 * Increase flexibility to consider other ways of saying things.
 * Build an awareness of a wider, more authentic audience.
 * Metacognition **
 * Stimulate discussion and metacognition (where developmentally ready).
 * Help students articulate issues about ownership, finding, different conceptualizations of the same content. These can be sophisticated challenges, even for the best students.


 * WIKI TOOLS FOR THE CLASSROOM**
 * Wikispaces - Ad-free wiki provider that is popular with many teachers today.
 * [|PBwiki]- Freemium-based wiki that is simple-to-use.
 * [|Google Sites] - Part of the Google Apps Productivity suite, a powerful collaboration wiki.
 * [|Webnote]- Similar to a wiki, but uses Post-it note format instead.
 * [|Wiki Engines] - Compilation of wiki programs that teachers can explore to find the wiki that best suits their needs.


 * CHALLENGES**

//The early consensus among educators seems to be to tell students to use Wikipedia as a starting point for their work, but not as a sole resource, (Richardson, 60).//

While anyone and everyone having the ability to edit and contribute to wikis play a key role in their appeal, that ability is also one of the reasons educators may be hesitant to encourage their students to use wikis as credible sources of information. To alleviate this challenge, teachers should explore wikis for their accuracy on their own, and encourage their students to use wikis as a guide for their research instead of as primary sources of information.


 * RESOURCES**

// Everyone together is smarter than anyone alone, // (Richardson, 57).

Check out these websites to get you started using wikis!
 * [|Wiki on Wikis in Education]
 * [|Using Wikis in the Classroom]
 * [|How Teachers Can Use Wikis in the Classroom]
 * [|50 Ways to Use Wikis] (highly recommended)