Working the Wiki Way in English Language Teaching

Working the Wiki Way in English Language Teaching

FLit ConferenceNicosia, Cyprus December 3-5, 2010

Christina YerouStavroulla Hadjiconstantinou

CYPRUS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

C.Yerou and S.Hadjiconstantinou

Workshop Outline

Theoretical background… Wikis in ELT & definition Wiki Applications in Teaching Benefits & Challenges

Showcases of ESP wikis The ENG 220 course wiki The ENG 191 course wiki

Hands-on practice… Creation of your own class wiki (!)

Theoretical Background

on wikis


Wikis in a language learning context

Wikis:

belong to the new wave of Web 2.0 components

are often used to support online teaching and learning activities

can replace the traditional linear approach of presenting the course content with a more appropriate networked approach

Wiki is a collaborative website whose content can be edited by visitors to the site, allowing users to easily create and edit webpages collaboratively. (Chao, 2007)


Wikis in EFL/ ESL and ESP

EFL/ ESL: (Baya, 2006; Godwin-Jones, 2003; Lund, 2008; Langdon, 2005; Lynch, 2004; Kiliçkaya, 2008; Franco, 2008)

ESP (in HE) “Incorporating wikis in ESP (and ESL) courses is a useful andinnovative way of enriching the learning environment ofstudents” (Kovacic, Bubas and Zlatovic, 2007)- - - - - - - - - - -

A wiki not only takes the classroom “into the real world thatthe students inhabit”, but most importantly

“brings their real world into their classroom”. (Harding, 2007, p.8)


Wikis: Applications in Teaching

Student Journaling Personal Portfolios (e-portfolios) Online note-taking (with the benefit of allowing notes to be peer reviewed and changed by fellow sts)

Reflective Diaries (enabling them to share reflections and thoughts regarding teaching practices)

Collaborative writing/ Peer-correction Research project development (with the W serving as ongoing documentation of sts work)

Project coordination and collaboration Publishing of course resources, i.e. syllabi, handouts Presentations (as a presentation tool in place of conventional software)

Brainstorming (editing a given wiki topic can produce a linked network of resources)

Student wikis Student-created glossaries, FAQs Submission of assigned work


Benefits for teachers and students

Benefits for the teacher:easy-to-use technologyease of editingfocusaccessinspirationexpansion‘history’ feature

Benefits for students: new class identity sense of belonging to a virtual community peer interactivity / peer correction new modes of submission


Challenges for teachers and students

Challenges for the teacher: prevention of vandalisminability to make content visible only to enrolled students organisation / housekeeping constant monitoring

Challenges for students: familiarity with computers

posting pressure and timing

time-consuming

Hands-On Practiceon creating your wiki


Workshop Objectives

1 Create a wiki 2 Create and edit the home page (and any other wiki page) 3 Create and edit the navigation menu 4 Create an external link 5 Upload a file (e.g. Microsoft Word, PowerPoint) 6 Upload a multimedia file (e.g. a youtube video) 7 Request membership to the fliki wiki 8 Invite a colleague to join your wiki 9 Post a comment and reply to each other (discussion forum) 10 Edit pages on the fliki wiki collaboratively


Choose a wiki website by visiting wikispaces.

You may choose from wiki websites, like: http://pbwiki.com http://www.wetpaint.com http://www.wikispaces.com

We have chosen wikispaces for this workshop, so go to:

http://www.wikispaces.com/

http://www.wikispaces.com/


Objective 1: Create a wikiStep 1: On the wikispaces website, click on ‘Wikis for Individuals and Groups’.


Objective 1: Create a wikiStep 2: Find the ‘Learn more and create your own classroom wiki today’, click on it and complete the form to create an account, join wikispaces, and create your wiki.

Think carefully about the URL you’ll create.Tip: It could include the code of the course you’ll be using it for or your name.

Check the ‘Protected’ button in the Wiki Permission.

Remember to press the ‘Join’ button.


Objective 1: Create a wikiCongratulations! You’ve just created your own wiki!!! (this is the home page)

On the left corner, the name of your wiki appears!

Your username should appear here! To be allowed to edit pages, you must always be logged in.

Have a look at the URL of your wiki!


Objective 2: Create and edit the home page

Step 1: To start adding content, simply click the ‘Edit’ button.


Objective 2: Create and edit the home pageStep 2: Delete all of the default text. Add the text you want to have on this page. Use the editor toolbar to format your text. Press the ‘Save’ button once your have finished.

The ‘Editor’ toolbar!Always remember to press the ‘Save’ button to upload your changes


Objective 2: Create and edit the home pageHere’s the new version of your front page. The new version is immediately available online (!)


Objective 3: Create and edit the navigation menuStep 1: To create a new page, you need to create a link to that page in the navigation menu. Click on ‘edit navigation’ on the SideBar tab.


Objective 3: Create and edit the navigation menuStep 2: Type the title of the new page you want to create (e.g. ‘My e-portfolio’).


Objective 3: Create and edit the navigation menuStep 3: Highlight the title and click on the ‘Link’ icon in the toolbar.

The ‘Link’ button enables you to insert a link internal or external to your wiki.


Objective 3: Create and edit the navigation menuStep 4: The ‘Insert Link’ window appears. Press the ‘

Add Link’ button to create a link within your wiki (internal link).


Objective 3: Create and edit the navigation menuStep 5: The title of the page you want to create should now appear underlined in blue – as a hyperlink. Save!


Objective 3: Create and edit the navigation menuStep 6: The new version of your page should include a link to the page you’ve just created. By clicking on it, it should take you to a new blank page!

The link to the new page within your wiki!


Objective 3: Create and edit the navigation menuStep 7: This is the new page you’ve created. Check its title. To add content to this page, go back to Objective 2!

The title of your new page!


Objective 4 : Create an external linkStep 1: To create an external link, click on the edit icon, type the title of the page you want to link to (e.g. Cambridge Online Dictionary), highlight it and click on the ‘Link’ button. On the ‘Insert link’ window that appears, select the ‘External Link’ button.


Objective 4 : Create an external linkStep 2: In the ‘Address’ field, write the URL of the website you want to create a link to (e.g. http://dictionary.cambridge.org/). Press the ‘Add Link’ button and then the ‘Save’ button on the toolbar!

If you want the website to open in a new window, check the ‘New Window’ button.


Objective 4 : Create an external linkThe name of the external page you added now appears with a green arrow next to it – this shows it’s a hyperlink.

The name / title now appears with a green arrow next to it.


Objective 5: Upload a fileStep 1: Click the ‘Edit’ button and press the ‘File’ button on the ‘Editor’ toolbar. In the window ‘Images and files’ press the ‘Upload Files’ button, and select the file /image you want to upload by double clicking it.


Objective 5: Upload a fileStep 2: When the file appears on the window, double click on it to insert it on the page. Click on the ‘Save’ button.


Objective 6: Upload a multimedia fileStep 1: To upload a video go to the page in which you want to insert the video and click the ‘Edit’ button. On the ‘Editor’ toolbar click on the ‘Embed widget’.

The ‘Embed Widget’ button.


Objective 6: Upload a multimedia fileStep 2: From the categories on the left menu, click on ‘Video’.

The ‘Embed Widget’ button.


Objective 6: Upload a multimedia fileStep 3: Select the icon of the website from which you want to upload the video.


Objective 6: Upload a multimedia fileStep 4: Once you click on the icon you want (e.g. ‘You Tube’), the ‘Widgets’ window appears. This provides a set of instructions explaining how to embed the video.

Follow instructions to upload a video.


Objective 7: Request membership to the fliki wikiStep 1: Find the ‘Join this wiki’ icon and click on it.


Objective 7: Request membership to the fliki wikiStep 2: Type your wikispaces username and password in the two fields. Click on the ‘Sign in’ button.

Complete these


Objective 7: Request membership to the fliki wikiStep 3: You may write a comment or directly click on the ‘Request Membership’ button.

Complete these


Objective 7: Request membership to the fliki wiki Step 4: At the top of the wiki, a message appears letting you know that your request to join the fliki wiki has been sent to the wiki organizers.

The message that should appear.


Objective 7: Request membership to the fliki wiki Step 5: Check your email. You should receive an email by Wikispaces, letting you know that your request to join the fliki wiki has been accepted.


Objective 8: Invite a colleague to join your wiki Step 1: Click on the ‘Manage Wiki’ link in your wiki.


Objective 8: Invite a colleague to join your wiki Step 2: Go to the ‘Invite People’ icon and click on it.


Objective 8: Invite a colleague to join your wiki Step 3: In the ‘Send To’ box, type the e-mail address of the person/s you would like to invite to your wiki.

You may personalise or edit the message before sending it.

Give the complete email address of your receiver.


Objective 8: Invite a colleague to join your wiki Step 4: A message should now appear telling you that an invitation has been sent. (NOTE: the invitation is sent directly to your receiver’s inbox)

You may personalise or edit the message before sending it.

Give the complete email address of your receiver.

This message appears


Objective 9: Post a comment and reply to each other Step 1: On any wiki page, there’s a ‘Discussion’ button. Click on it.


Objective 9: Post a comment and reply to each other Step 2: Press the ‘New Post’ button.


Objective 9: Post a comment and reply to each other Step 3: Type in the ‘Subject’ field, and then write you message in the ‘Message’ box. Press ‘Post’ button.


Objective 9: Post a comment and reply to each other Step 4: Your message has been posted. Any wiki member may click on the ‘subject’ of your post so that s/he reads it, and replies to it.

Here’s your post


Objective 10: Edit pages collaboratively Step 1: Go to the resources link on the navigation menu of fliki. Get to the ‘Objective 10’ wiki page and complete the tasks by editing each page.

To be able to add comments, make sure you are signed in.


To continue learning more about wikispaces, click on the ‘Help’ link to the top right of every page.

Stavroulla Hadjiconstantinou [email protected] Christina Yerou [email protected]

Thank you!


References

Baya, G. (Summer 2006). Using Wikis to Foster Collaboration in Writing Tasks. UK. IATEFL CALL Review. pp. 24-29

Chao, J. (2007). Student project collaboration using Wikis. Proceedings of the 20th Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T 2007), Dublin, Ireland: July 3-5. Manuscript accepted for publication

Franco, C. de Paiva. (2008). Using Wiki-Based Peer-Correction to Develop Writing Skills of Brazilian EFL Learners. Novitas-Royal. Vol 2(1), 49-59 Godwin-Jones, B. (2003). Blogs and Wikis: Environments for On-line Collaboration. Language Learning & Technology. Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 12-16Harding, K. (2007). English for Specific Purposes.Oxford University Press

Kiliçkaya, F. (2008) PBwiki: Web 2.0 Tool for Collaboration. In IATEFL Poland Computer Special Interest Group Teaching English with Technology A Journal for Teachers of English Vol. 8, Issue 2Langdon, S. (July 2005). Wikis & Blogs. UK. IATEFL CALL Review. pp. 38-40.Lund, A. (2008). Wikis: a collective approach to language production. ReCALL:The Journal of EUROCALL, Vol. 20 ( 1), pp. 35-54

Lynch, S. (June 2004). EAP & ICT: Stirred, not Shaken. UK. IATEFL CALL Review. pp. 9-14.

Documents

Working the Wiki Way in English Language Teaching