A Wiki is a excellent tool for teachers to use to create a site to use with students for collaboration and feedback and to share reference materials. The most well known example of a wiki, is Wikipedia, an encyclopedia that anyone in the world can help to write or update.
- classrooms can engage in collaborative projects with other classrooms and other schools. - can create collaborative stories, projects, and online portfolios - some of our highschools use pbworks for announcements. See GDCI.
- when you enable the notifications, you can see that students are working on posts on their OWN time at home, not just at school.
- students can engage in collaborative projects with other students in their classrooms and with other students at other schools.
Students from Fredericksburg Academy, in Fredericksburg, Virginia and Turnberry Central Public School, in Wingham, Ontario, worked together on issues of Social Justice.
Suggestions for teachers when setting up a wiki for your students
On the front page of your wiki place
a short introduction with links to other pages
instructions on how students should use the wiki - AUP - Acceptable Use Policy for your school board should be mentioned
Rules for wiki use:
- NEVER give out personal information on the web
- DON'T delete someone else's info
- Check the button in your account settings to HIDE your email
- Use APPROPRIATE comments
- DON'T "steal lock" from anyone unless it has been at least 5 min. or you are sure the other person is finished editing
Add student assignments and instructions
Create a page called "Handouts" and upload the files there.
Then use a creative activity to engage your students on your wiki. Here are three examples:
Individual pages- Ask each student to create a wiki page, posting information about their interests and what they hope to learn from the class. Be sure to comment on the pages, and engage them by referencing their personal interests in discussions. Use this as an easy icebreaker to have students get to know each other.
Online spelling list – Create a page titled ‘Spelling’ and post your spelling list. Ask students to post the definition or upload a corresponding image.
Class notes - Each week assign one student to write up the class notes, including important points and class discussion. Be sure to comment on the notes, and add additional insight from the lesson.
Hosting Wiki Sites
Wikispaces - Wiki creation sites for educators: PBWorks (formerly PBwiki) - Wiki creation sites for educators - apply for the educational version which is free with no ads! For a premium wiki it will cost $99/yr. The premium version gives you access controls, unlimited storage and full customization. There is also a campus edition that offers unlimited premium wikis for your school, district, or university for $799/year for up to 1,000 students. (pricing current as of Mar/09)
Wetpaint - you can request the ad free version for educators - this has been discontinued as of Aug 2009. If you want the ad-free version, it will cost $19.95 U.S monthly.
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