The Wiki Way: Creating and Facilitating a Collaborative Online Learning Environment

Shanna Opfer Concordia UniversityDirector of Elementary Education ProgramSeward, NE

Sectional Agenda

•Wiki Basics•Play with a Wiki • http://edgetechnology.wikispaces.com• Share effective examples of Wiki use

in Elementary Classrooms•Create your own Wiki Account•Create your own Wiki

So, what is a Wiki?

A web page with an edit button!

This video, by the people at Commoncraft, explains the idea of a Wiki “in Plain

English” without using ANY technology.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-

dnL00TdmLY

Wiki’s are…A type of web site that allows users to easily

add,remove,

and otherwise edit and changeavailable content.

This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for

collaborative authoring.

Key to Effective Wiki Success…

Collaboration!• If you are not offering collaboration opportunities on your

Wiki, you are missing the whole point! • Without options for co-editing and communication, you simply

have a webpage.• Effective Wiki’s embrace other 21st Century Skills as well:• Communication in a Digital Arena• Critical Thinking in a Global Context• New Media Literacy• Creativity

Types of Wiki’s

•Public• Can be viewed by anyone• Also can be edited by anyone

•Protected• Can be viewed by anyone• Only can be edited by members of the space

•Private• Can only be viewed or edited by members of the

space

Why ?

• “The world’s easiest to use wiki.”•No experience necessary. You are up

and running in minutes!

• There are other good wiki sites:• PB Wiki• Wetpaint

Let’s Jump in and Try This Out!

•Go to http://edgetechnology.wikispaces.com• Settings are on PUBLIC, so anyone can access and edit.

•Please wait while I assign you a “play page” on this Wiki.

Let’s Jump in and Try This Out!• Navigate to your page, click the button, and add the

following information.

• Name • School• Position• Briefly share a way you’ve recently used technology in

instruction OR share a favorite technology application or website you use or look forward to using in your future classroom. (Write a short paragraph)

• For my early finishers: Play with the editing toolbar to change font, text size, etc.

• Click ! You have 6 minutes! Go!

Now Let’s Collaborate

• Go to the “Play Page” one number after your own. (1 goes to 2, 2 goes to 3, etc)• Read the content on the page and respond in one of

the following ways:• Relate a personal experience you’ve had with this

technology• Offer a suggestion to make this learning

experience even better• Share other insights or thoughts• Share encouragement

My Experience with a Wiki

http://cueducation201.wikispaces.com

Essential Understandings• Technology should enhance student understanding of

content.• Technology should support learning goals and

objectives.

Wiki Concerns and Solutions• A malicious author can sabotage a wiki's content… A wiki can

easily be restored to a previous version by visiting the history function.

• A wiki allows anyone to edit… A wiki can be set up to allow only authorized users to have editing rights. You can also create a wiki that only you and your class can edit.

• A wiki page does not like to be edited by two people simultaneously… Create sub-pages for the students to work on that are linked to the main page. Click “refresh” and save often.

• Student privacy is paramount… Never publish last names or personal details of students. Teachers must discuss privacy issues with their students.

How Can I Use it in My Classroom?

“Home Base Center”

• Promote Communication with Parents and Students• Facilitate Content Delivery• Post assignments, projects, etc.• Share resources Examples:

• Student Portfolios Mrs. Cook’s Class Mrs. Anderson’s Class

How Can I Use it in My Classroom?

Facilitate Collaboration and Communication

• Within your own classroom• Project-based learning• Peer-reviewed work• "Choose your Own Adventure" Story Writing

• Within your community• http://bungareehistory.wikispaces.com/

• With the country/world• http://greetingsfromtheworld.wikispaces.com/

How Can I Use it in My Classroom?

Professional Development

• A great Wiki often houses a stockpile of GREAT resources and information

• Join Wiki’s that are helpful for your needs

• Specific Subject Area Support• http://resourcesforhistoryteachers.wikispaces.com/home

• School Wide Goal Work• http://21stcenturyskillsnmteachercourse.wikispaces.com/home

So, before we Wiki…

Questions?Concerns?Thoughts?

Wiki Workshop• Use the paper tutorial to set up your Wikispaces account and

begin work on your Wiki.

• For further tips, tricks, and ideas visit the Wiki Tutorials link on the Edge Technology Wikipage.

• Wiki Ideas:• Classroom Home Base Page (try to include at least one page that

promotes collaboration)• Begin a page for a collaborative project in your classroom• Create a portfolio of teaching resources• Do your own thing!

Workshop Sharing

•What did you accomplish?•What are you excited about?•What other questions do you have?