Wiki:Wiki: A Tool for CollaborationA Tool for Collaboration

Laura Lamey Laura Lamey December 2, 2007December 2, 2007

EDES 545 EDES 545 University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta

Changing face of the InternetChanging face of the Internet

Web 2.0Web 2.0 PodcastsPodcasts BlogsBlogs Social NetworkingSocial Networking WikisWikis

Shift from Passive to Active usersShift from Passive to Active users Online CommunitiesOnline Communities

Changing face of the InternetChanging face of the Internet

"The use of [the term Web 2.0] has marked the "The use of [the term Web 2.0] has marked the transition of the Internet from a place where we transition of the Internet from a place where we surf on information and consume information to surf on information and consume information to a place where we are creators of information. a place where we are creators of information. In essence we go from surfing the wave to In essence we go from surfing the wave to BEING the wave itself as we contribute and BEING the wave itself as we contribute and share information on the Internet ocean."share information on the Internet ocean." (Davis, 2006)(Davis, 2006)

Web 2.0 in EducationWeb 2.0 in Education

New Applications for Teachers and New Applications for Teachers and StudentsStudents

Collaboration in the classroomCollaboration in the classroom Professional Learning CommunitiesProfessional Learning Communities Information LiteracyInformation Literacy Digital CitizenshipDigital Citizenship

What’s a Wiki?What’s a Wiki?

A wiki is an online application that enables a group A wiki is an online application that enables a group of people to collaboratively build a web site. of people to collaboratively build a web site.

Wikis were created in 1994 by Ward Cunningham, Wikis were created in 1994 by Ward Cunningham, an Oregon based computer programmer. an Oregon based computer programmer.

Wiki is a short form of the Hawaiian "wiki-wiki", Wiki is a short form of the Hawaiian "wiki-wiki", which means quick. The name is derived from the which means quick. The name is derived from the airport shuttle buses in Honolulu. airport shuttle buses in Honolulu.

The best known examle of a wiki is the famous The best known examle of a wiki is the famous online encyclopedia online encyclopedia wikipediawikipedia . (Long, 2006) . (Long, 2006)

Features of a WikiFeatures of a Wiki

Collaborative, dynamic, works in Collaborative, dynamic, works in progress progress

Pages can be edited by usersPages can be edited by users Can be public or private Can be public or private

Discussion tabs- users can Discussion tabs- users can discuss each page discuss each page

Easy to use- you do not have to be Easy to use- you do not have to be a technology expert a technology expert

Page history allows you to see Page history allows you to see changes that have been made changes that have been made

Allows you to revert back to a Allows you to revert back to a previous version of the page previous version of the page

Search function- allows you search Search function- allows you search the wiki the wiki

Can create links to other other Can create links to other other pages and to external web contentpages and to external web content

Notification feature allows the Notification feature allows the

manager of the wiki to be alerted manager of the wiki to be alerted when changes have been made when changes have been made

Can incorporate sound, images, Can incorporate sound, images, videos videos

Blog vs. WikiBlog vs. Wiki

BlogBlog Content is shared in Content is shared in

the form of posts and the form of posts and comments.comments.

Content is ordered Content is ordered chronologicallychronologically

Vehicle of choice for Vehicle of choice for expressing individual expressing individual opinionsopinions

WikiWiki Open structure that Open structure that

can allow users to can allow users to edit contentedit content

Content ordered by Content ordered by topictopic

Ideal for groups Ideal for groups wishing to contribute wishing to contribute and collaborateand collaborate

Want to know more?Want to know more?

Help For TeachersHelp For Teachers Created by the hosting site wikispaces. Created by the hosting site wikispaces.

Answers to Frequently asked questions, Answers to Frequently asked questions, instructions and video tutorials that will help instructions and video tutorials that will help you get started.you get started.

WikiWiki Walk Through Walk Through Created by Teachers First. This site has all the Created by Teachers First. This site has all the

basics on wikis and includes many practical basics on wikis and includes many practical ideas for the classroom. ideas for the classroom.

Wiki ExamplesWiki ExamplesThe Flat Classroom ProjectThe Flat Classroom Project

An exceptional example of a collaborative project that links seven An exceptional example of a collaborative project that links seven classrooms around the world.classrooms around the world.

Teacher-Librarian 2.0Teacher-Librarian 2.0Exploring emerging technologies that impact the role of Exploring emerging technologies that impact the role of the teacher-librarian.the teacher-librarian.

High School Online Collaborative WritingHigh School Online Collaborative WritingFeatures the collaborative writing of various high school students.Features the collaborative writing of various high school students.

WikibooksWikibooksCollection of textbooks to be edited by anyone.Collection of textbooks to be edited by anyone.

swarmsketchswarmsketchCollaborative drawing project where visitors can contribute a single line to Collaborative drawing project where visitors can contribute a single line to a collective drawing.a collective drawing.

Westwood SchoolsWestwood SchoolsCreated by teacher Vicki Davis.Created by teacher Vicki Davis.

WikipediaWikipediaThe online encyclopedia.The online encyclopedia.

Art Appreciation CourseArt Appreciation CourseA very active wiki for a college level Art appreciation course out of A very active wiki for a college level Art appreciation course out of California.California.

Culture of CollaborationCulture of Collaboration As teachers, we understand that learning is As teachers, we understand that learning is

social and that students benefit in many ways social and that students benefit in many ways from collaborating in the classroom. from collaborating in the classroom.

Working with wikis is an ideal way to Working with wikis is an ideal way to incorporate technology into one's teaching and incorporate technology into one's teaching and to actively engage today's students in to actively engage today's students in collaboration.collaboration.

Culture of CollaborationCulture of Collaboration

"For teachers in the classroom, "For teachers in the classroom, collaboration is a vital facet of their collaboration is a vital facet of their professional lives; however, educators professional lives; however, educators often fall victim to the 'four-wall often fall victim to the 'four-wall syndrome' that prevents prevents syndrome' that prevents prevents professional sharing and isolates professional sharing and isolates educational practice." (Henry, 2005, p.30)educational practice." (Henry, 2005, p.30)

Wikis in the ClassroomWikis in the Classroom

"In using wikis, students are not only "In using wikis, students are not only learning how to publish content; they are learning how to publish content; they are also learning how to develop and use all also learning how to develop and use all sorts of collaborative skills, negotiating sorts of collaborative skills, negotiating with others the to agree on correctness, with others the to agree on correctness, meaning, relevance, and more. In meaning, relevance, and more. In essence, students begin to teach each essence, students begin to teach each other."other." (Richardson, 2005, p.19) (Richardson, 2005, p.19)

Students can:Students can:

contribute from anywhere they have contribute from anywhere they have access to the internet access to the internet

develop skills in technology develop skills in technology develop skills in working collaboratively develop skills in working collaboratively develop a sense of responsibility and develop a sense of responsibility and

ownership for the content of a site ownership for the content of a site

(Richardson, 2005, p.19)(Richardson, 2005, p.19)

Teachers can:Teachers can:

create and maintain a space with with minimal create and maintain a space with with minimal technical expertise or support technical expertise or support (Jakes, 2006, p.7) (Jakes, 2006, p.7)

engage students with the use of new engage students with the use of new technologies technologies

easily track student submissions to projects easily track student submissions to projects increase student accountability in group increase student accountability in group

projects projects foster a sense of community within the foster a sense of community within the

classroom classroom

Ideas For Using Ideas For Using WikisWikis in the Classroom in the Classroom

Professional Learning Professional Learning CommunityCommunity

To create a professional learning community:To create a professional learning community:

focus on learning rather than teaching focus on learning rather than teaching work collaboratively work collaboratively hold yourself accountable for results hold yourself accountable for results (Dufour, 2004, p.6)(Dufour, 2004, p.6)

Professional Learning Professional Learning Community OnlineCommunity Online

Working online will not replace these Working online will not replace these meetings but it can extend the potential meetings but it can extend the potential of the community. There are many of the community. There are many advantages to working online, and advantages to working online, and teachers may find that the ability to build teachers may find that the ability to build and to sustain effective professional and to sustain effective professional learning community is improved.learning community is improved.

AdvantagesAdvantages

ConvenienceConvenience

Teachers may have access to a wiki on Teachers may have access to a wiki on their own timetable. Online collaboration their own timetable. Online collaboration eliminates the physical barrier of having eliminates the physical barrier of having everyone in in the same physical everyone in in the same physical location. location.

AdvantagesAdvantages

EfficiencyEfficiency

Teachers are kept informed online of any new Teachers are kept informed online of any new developments and can be well prepared before developments and can be well prepared before any meetings take place, allowing the group to any meetings take place, allowing the group to really maximize their precious time together. really maximize their precious time together. Follow-up questions or reflections can also be Follow-up questions or reflections can also be posted without having to wait until the group posted without having to wait until the group meets again. meets again.

AdvantagesAdvantages

Cost effectivenessCost effectiveness

Online communities, such as wikis, can Online communities, such as wikis, can be developed by educators for free. The be developed by educators for free. The expense of travel, or of having substitute expense of travel, or of having substitute teachers, for example, is also eliminated teachers, for example, is also eliminated

AdvantagesAdvantages

CurrencyCurrency

Working online allows users to post Working online allows users to post information on a continual basis, without information on a continual basis, without having to wait for the next meeting. The having to wait for the next meeting. The information and resources online can be kept information and resources online can be kept very current. very current.

BenefitsBenefits

Working online will allow teachers to become Working online will allow teachers to become comfortable and proficient with new technologies which comfortable and proficient with new technologies which may then be incorporated into their teaching practice. may then be incorporated into their teaching practice. (George, 2007, p.14) (George, 2007, p.14)

Online format lends itself well to blending subject area Online format lends itself well to blending subject area content with technology integration strategies. (George, content with technology integration strategies. (George, 2007, p.14) 2007, p.14)

Online communities don't have geographical barriers. Online communities don't have geographical barriers. Collaboration can extend to include a wide group of Collaboration can extend to include a wide group of teachers in a content area. teachers in a content area.

CurrikiCurriki

Global Education and Learning Global Education and Learning CommunityCommunity

An example of the possibilities of online An example of the possibilities of online collaboration for teachers sharing collaboration for teachers sharing resources and knowledgeresources and knowledge

Best Practices for SuccessBest Practices for Success

Have specific goals and objectives. Have specific goals and objectives.

Establish who the authors will be. Establish who the authors will be.

Appoint a wiki monitor to watch for vandalism and spam. Appoint a wiki monitor to watch for vandalism and spam.

Take time to train users. Take time to train users.

Promote your resource. Promote your resource.

Encourage play. Create a safe environment where it's ok to make Encourage play. Create a safe environment where it's ok to make mistakes.mistakes.

Have a basic structure. Leave room for participants to contribute. Have a basic structure. Leave room for participants to contribute. (Stephens, 2006)(Stephens, 2006)

Best Practices for SuccessBest Practices for Success Use the alert feature that lets the wiki manager know that changes have Use the alert feature that lets the wiki manager know that changes have

been made. Check regularly. been made. Check regularly.

Determine whether your wiki should be public or private. (Security issues Determine whether your wiki should be public or private. (Security issues may arise if your space is public.) may arise if your space is public.)

Be aware of copyright issues (includes text, images, sounds, and video) Be aware of copyright issues (includes text, images, sounds, and video)

Have a strong acceptable use policy. Emphasize digital professionalism.Have a strong acceptable use policy. Emphasize digital professionalism. Prevent students from revealing personal information. Prevent students from revealing personal information. (Davis, 2007)(Davis, 2007)

Include a unit on Student Privacy and the internet. Check the school or Include a unit on Student Privacy and the internet. Check the school or district's policies. district's policies.

Allow students to have opportunities to work online in class and during Allow students to have opportunities to work online in class and during the school day, ensuring that all students have access to computersthe school day, ensuring that all students have access to computers

Get StartedGet Started

Visit Visit WikispacesWikispaces to set up a free, ad-free to set up a free, ad-free space. space.

ReferencesReferencesCurriki: Global education and learning community. Retrieved October 20, 2007 from http://www.curriki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Main/

Davis, M (2007). Wiki wisdom: Lessons for educators. Education Weeks Digital Directions 1(Fall), 16-18. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

Davis, Vicki (2006) The Six Pillars of an effective Web 2.0 Classroom. Retrieved December 30, 2007 from http://k12online.wm.edu/Web20classroom.pdf

Davis, Vicki (2007). Wiki Collaboration Across the Curriculum. Retrieved December 30, 2007 from http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=38

DuFour, R. (2004, May). What Is a Professional Learning Community? Educational Leadership, 61(8), 6-11. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from Professional Development Collection database.

George, M. (2007) Online-learning communities: The next generation of professional development. Multimedia & Internet @ Schools 14(6), 14-17. Retrieved November 30, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals Database.

Henry, B. (2005) Combating the four wall syndrome. Principal Leadership, 5(9), 30-35. Retrieved November 30, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals Database.

Jakes, D. (2006, August). Wild about wikis: Tools for taking student and teacher collaboration to the next level. Technology & Learning, 27(1), 6. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

Lefever, Lee (2007) Wikis in plain english. Youtube. Retrieved November 3, 2007 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY

Long, S.A. (2006). Exploring the wiki world: The new face of collaboration. New Library World, 107(3/4), 157-159. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

Richardson, W. (2005). What’s a wiki? A powerful tool for teaching and Learning. That’s what! Multimedia & Internet@Schools 12 (6), 17-21. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

Seven things you should know about wikis (2005) Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved October 20, 2007 from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf

Stahmer, T. (2006, January). Think Outside the BLOG. Technology & Learning, 26(6), 28, 30. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

Stephens, M. (2006). Wikis. Library Technology Reports, 42(4), 52-57. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

Teachers First (2006) Wiki Walk-Through. Retrieved November 30, 2007 from http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/

UNESCO. Technology and learning: Definitions. Retrieved November 4, 2007 from http://www.unesco.org/education/educprog/lwf/doc/portfolio/definitions.htm

Wiki Enters Oxford English Dictionary. (2007, June). Information Outlook, 11(6), 8. Retrieved October 20, 2007, from ProQuest Education Journals database.

Wikispaces (2007). Retrieved September 29, 2007 from http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers100K

Images

All images used are form Microsoft Office Online.