Using WikisUsing WikisUsing WikisUsing Wikis

Presented by: Esther MitchellPresented by: Esther Mitchell

Welcome to

Using Wikis!!

• Be sure to complete this pre-professional development survey before the training begins.

– Pre-Professional Development Survey

Presentation Agenda• Session One: Using Wikis: The Basics

– Wiki Introduction– Kindergarten Math Wiki– Interactive Activities– Setting Up with a Wiki– Share Ideas & Questions

• Session Two: Using Wikis: Integrating & Collaborating. – Integration with Wiki– Collaborating with Wiki– Interactive Activities– Share Ideas & Questions– Wrap Up

Session One: Using Wikis: The Basics

Introducing Wiki •Social Definition: A wiki is a

tool for collaboration, information sharingand knowledge/content management.

•Technical Definition: A “wiki” is a type of software to run a website that anyone can edit.

•In Hawaiian, Wiki means fast.

What is Wiki?• A webpage with an Edit feature• Easy to Use• Perfect for Collaborative Learning• Ideal for Professional Learning

Communities

In the beginning….• In 1995, Ward Cunningham invented a type

of website software that allowed anyone to modify the site’s content.

• The wiki was invented in order to make the exchange of ideas between programmers easier but was soon discovered as a way to easily share content as well as ideas.

• Different wiki engines were written including UseMod, PhpWiki, MoinMoin, Twiki.

And then…….

• In the late 1990s, wikis were increasingly recognized as a promising way to develop private- and public-knowledge bases.

• The founders of the Nupedia encyclopedia project, Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger, used wiki technology as a basis for an electronic encyclopedia: Wikipedia was launched in January 2001.

Today….• Dozens of wiki engines & wiki companies

on the market, including.– “Enterprise wikis” – software for

company intranets• Socialtext, Confluence

– Free wiki hosting services – • Jotspot, Wikia, Wetpaint

– Or, download & install your own: • Mediawiki, PhpWiki, Kwiki, etc. etc.

– And dozens of communities….• Wikipedia, PBWiki, and Wikispaces.

Wiki Videos

• Wiki Introduction - Video

• What is Wiki? - Video

Why use wikis in education?

• Wikis encourage collaborative learning and information sharing

• They increase student engagement and participation

• Wikis facilitate communication between teachers and parents and guardians.

Review….• A Wiki is a type of website that allows

users to easily edit and change some available content

• Two parts: – “wiki engine” (software) – users – edit content and develop the

wiki community• “Wiki” or “the wiki” often generically

refers to both• Wikipedia is just one example, running

on one type of wiki software.

How does a wiki start?

• A wiki page starts more or less empty

• Wiki pages are connected by internal hyperlinks

• Every page should be connected • No ownership of wiki content –

anyone can work on any piece!!

Essential Features• Most wikis have:

– Edit this page - open editing of pages (sometimes with permission layers)

– Distinct syntax – simple, non-html – Discussion – comment on a page or the

site – Versioning – you can see every change

that’s been made to a page– Recent changes - can (usually) see all

changes made to the site– Revert – can always change a page back to

what it was before

Kindergarten Math Wiki

• Kindergarten teachers are searching for time saving, easy to use technology- based tools to use within the classroom mathematic curriculum.

• The creation of a wiki resource with focused mathematic activities and resources that can be utilized by Kindergarten teachers.

Why on PBWorks?Education Features• Collaborative Editing• Complete History and Audit Trail• PBworks keeps a complete audit trail of every change

made to your workspace. Reverse any change.  • Easily invite. Security • Access Controls• PBworks includes workspace-wide access levels (Reader,

Writer, Editor, and Administrator) so you can determine who can read or edit your workspace.

• Hide pages so only administrators can view or edit or lock a page so only administrators can edit.

Customization• Multimedia Plugins• Use PBworks Plugins to add multimedia content

including images and videos. • Customizable Templates and color choice

Activity: Exploring Math Resource

• Kindergarten Math Technology Resource Wiki

– Websites 

– Interactive Games 

– Worksheets 

– SMARTBoard 

– Kindergarten Teacher Social Networking  

– Kinder Chat 

Resource BasicsActivity: Signing Up:• Choose your address:

http://____.pbworks.com • Agree to non-commercial use agreement

– “I agree that this workspace is for non-commercial use only.”

• Create your account:– Your name – Your email address.

» A confirmation message will be sent to this address as well as optional daily tips and tricks.

– Enter password – Confirm password.

Congratulations!!

• You have just created your very own PBWiki account!!

• Access to the Kindergarten Math Technology Resource Wiki for Integration and Collaboration purposes!

Questions & Comments

• What have you learned about Wiki so far?

• Do you feel your knowledge about Wikis have increased after participating in session one?

• What is your initial opinion about the Wiki math resource?

• Anything else?

Thank you!• This concludes Session 1 of Using Wikis

professional development training!!

• For any questions, comments or assistance, feel free to contact:

Esther Mitchell(480)277-2094eym6@nau.edu