aPLaNet ICT Tools Factsheets_11_Wikispaces

8/3/2019 aPLaNet ICT Tools Factsheets_11_Wikispaces

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The project Autonomous Personal Learning Networks for Language Teachers has been funded with support from the

European Commission. This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible

for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Resource Number 11

Wikispaces

URL

http://www.wikispaces.com

Category IV

Collaboration Tools Wikis

Keywords

collaboration, editable, shared resources, word processing

Rationale

Collaboration is a critical job and study skill and Wikispaces allows one to model and develop this skill online. Wikispaces is atool to collect and collate web finds, report on your activities, organize teachers and student's online portfolios, update andbuild together materials. The page set up allows the visitor to explore the finds and use this tool as a web 2.0 learning journey.

The optimal benefit of using a wiki for classroom education is the ability to facilitate and document collaboration among classmembers.

It can be explored also by educators as a great tool for Continuous and Autonomous Professional Development since it allows

working asynchronously and synchronously on collaborative projects regardless the location of the participants.

Description

A wiki is a Web site that can be edited, organized, and collated by anyone who is in the wiki's user base. Wikispaces arecollaborative, community effort building application that allows updating information, discussing with invited members andkeeping track on changes that have been done on the wiki by others. Wiki offers a 2G space for collaboration and processinginformation and adding an unlimited number of users on your wiki.

Resources required

Wikispaces is built to work immediately without any downloads. The tool is very user-friendly and suitable for less experiencedtechnology users.

Obligatory resources

Desktop computer or laptop An Internet connection (not necessarily broadband) An e-mail address Registration and logging in atwww.wikispaces.com

Cost

Wikispaces offers two options: Wikis for individuals and groups: All the features needed for a relatively small group are free. That includes the

ability to invite up to 100 members to your wiki and 2GB of storage space, as well as some customisation options.

Wikis for organisations: For more features, subscriptions start at $1000/year. Eliminates advertisements andallows customisation (colours and the layouts).
http://www.wikispaces.com/http://www.wikispaces.com/http://www.wikispaces.com/http://www.wikispaces.com/


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Setup and Configuration

All you need is a web browser and an Internet connection.

After choosing a Username, Password and introducing anemail address, you are transferred to the welcome page

where you can type in the name of your wiki. You will proceed

to Welcome to Your New Wiki site where you can get a help

and view some tutorials guiding you step by step in the

creation of your wiki.

Styling

In the section Manage Wiki you can click on Settings and then select Look and Feel. In Themes and Colours you can choose

from a pre-select range of Themes for your Wiki. The range is limited but if you wish to design your own or get more options

you can purchase an upgraded version. You can also add a logo. More options are available only for paying members.

Navigation and operation

Wiki Service well organized and intuitive. It's designed to provide all of the benefits of wikis while being very simple to use fornon-technical users.

The main Navigation menu offers some options: By clicking on Page and then the Edit button, you can start composing your first entry. You can use the typical

range of options for text editing, insert links, widgets, pictures, files, spreadsheets, etc. Each entry can be easilyedited.

By clicking on Discussion you can start a discussion with the members you have invited into your wiki. You can seta topic, see replies and views.

The button History helps you orient in the posts and updates of invited members. The button Notify provides a service that sends you an email on the email address you have typed in.

The function of the Wikispace manager (the author of the wiki) and anyone else given "administrator" permission is able tohandle the organization of the wiki. He can:

Set permissions for the whole wiki. Manage wiki members. Change the look and update. Lock pages so no one can edit them. Delete or rename files and pages. Look at the history logs and see who has spent time and effort learning the technology and collaborating.

If you need assistance, there are several video guides that will show you how to work with a Wiki.


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Implementation methodology

A wiki is an excellent platform for content storage, sharing and collaborating. This makes it ideal for organising course contentin a variety of contexts: distance, contact or blended learning. The emphasis on collaborative editing and ease of access in a

highly customisable yet very secure environment renders Wikispaces can be exploited by users of all ages and levels ofproficiency.

Teaching/Learning ideas:

Organise and deliver course content in a variety of formats. Organise assignment work, deliver contents, keep track of grades, attendance, and feedback. Encourage project work in classroom and task-based learning activities. Have learners edit each other's assignment work. Get classroom feedback. Provide learners with further resources, additional reading, videos to watch, useful links and resources. Assign each learner their own individual page, where they can upload their work and receive comments and

feedback. Keep records of learner work and progress. Help learners and educators create their own professional e-Portfolio.

Example of implementation

Type of lesson: Teacher DevelopmentLesson Title: Using Wikispaces as a class syllabusAge group: Applicable to all levels and types of lessonsNumber of students involved: 30Duration: 90 minutes (basic outline)

Introduction: The aim of the presentation is to explain how collaborative tools as Wikispaces can be used as aclass syllabus.

Lead-in: T discusses the idea of on-line class syllabi and that includes course information such as a list of requiredtextbooks, necessary prerequisite courses, assignment due dates, and other expectations. Then, the possibilities oftaking advantage of Wiki tools while designing a course are commented on. T introduces the concept of Wikispacesand explains how to operate the application, show the basic options and discuss what the usage might be. Then heexplains the goal of the course to compose an on-line syllabus for one of their lessons.

Lesson flow: Participants will work individually or in pairs to compose the basic outline of an imaginative course oruse some of their real courses as inspiration and basis for further expanding and use. Typically, the sections that anon-line syllabus might include are course information, course requirements, attendance, grading criteria, week-by-week schedule, recommended study literature and online resources, course assignments, course documents,bookmark course websites, eg. Delicious. At the end of the session, a basic outline of the class personaliseddictionary should be built.

Follow up: The outline of the syllabi can be reviewed, expanded, updated and edited as many times as wished.This way, SS can keep track of what the aims and requirements of the course are and organize how to meet them.

Other issues You can embed Glogs using theGlogster EDUinto your Wikispaces services. ABloggeraccount can be added to your wiki too. Visitors can read your blog right from the wiki. Add videos fromYou Tubeto your Wikispaces wiki. Add chat to your wiki usingGabbly.

This Factsheet is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 2.0 License. To view a

copy of this licence, visithttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/
http://www.delicious.com/http://www.delicious.com/http://www.delicious.com/http://edu.glogster.com/http://edu.glogster.com/http://edu.glogster.com/http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/http://www.blogger.com/http://www.youtube.com./http://www.youtube.com./http://www.youtube.com./http://www.gabbly.com/http://www.gabbly.com/http://www.gabbly.com/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/http://www.gabbly.com/http://www.youtube.com./http://www.blogger.com/http://edu.glogster.com/http://www.delicious.com/

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aPLaNet ICT Tools Factsheets_11_Wikispaces