If you like to listen to a song while reading this wiki page, please check it out!

Our intended audience: Educators from the elementary to the Higher Education level:

Our objectives with this site include:
1. To provide background information on the use of wikis in instruction.
2. To provide information on the learning theories and uses of wikis across student’s developmental
levels.
3. How wikis can be used to teach students collaboration
4. How wikis can be used to teach students to edit their writing
5.To provide information on evaluation of wiki sites and safety issues with wikis

THE WACKY WORLD OF WIKIS: USING WIKIS WITH STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO TEACH WRITING AND COLLABORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I: Introduction A. Video of Jimmy Wales B. Video: What is a wiki?

II: Historical perspective and theoretical background information A: The Beginnings B: Development of Wikis C: Types of Wikis

III: Wiki websites that can be used in the classroom A: Wikiversity: Free learning tools B: Wikisource: The free documentation library C: Wikispecies: Directory of species

IV: Using wikis in the classroom A: Why use a wiki? B: Student technology culture C: Why teach writing with wikis? D: Got control issues? E: It's a wild Web 2.0 world out there F: Wiki what? G: Frustrated much? H: So what can I do with a wiki? I: Ideas for using wikis across the developmental age plan J: Ideas for using wikis in elementary school K: Using wikis in Middle School L: Using wikis in High School M:Podcast on how a teacher uses a wiki in Language Arts N: Higher education can use wikis too O: Teachers can also use wikis P: Video on how teachers are using wikis Q: Teaching writing with wikis

V: Creating,editing, adding content and customizing wikis A: Video on how to create a new page on Chesterwiki B. Video on adding and formatting content using Mediawiki C: Video on how to add video on a Wikispreadsheet D: Video: Editing a wiki

VI: References:

I: Introduction



A: Do you want to watch a cool video from Jimmy Wales, the creator of Wikipedia?

Check it out !


B: So what are wikis? Check this video out if you want to find out!


II: Historical perspective and theoretical background information

A. The Beginnings
With the evolution of the World Wide Web, many hoped for a system that would allow anyone to share what they knew with anyone who wanted that knowledge. However, early web browsers provided read-only access to existing hypertext markup language (HTML). This publishing model has continued to dominate the web and often complicates the exchange of information by ordinary individuals. Anyone wanting to utilize the Web for information transfer had to learn how to include HTML texts, as well as have access to the needed software to upload content to a web server. WikiWikiWeb, or Wikis provide a individuals with a simple method for creating and editing web content simply by using a web browser.
The first wiki was developed in 1994-95 by Ward Cunnigham for the Portland Pattern Repository. It is sometimes referred to as Ward'sWiki or TheOriginalWiki and can still be found at http://c2.com/cgi/wiki (Chawner, 2006). Wiki is Hawaiian for "quick." Cunningham named the wiki after the quick shuttle buses that he had used at the aiport in Honolulu (Skiba, 2006)
Cunningham wrote the original wiki in Practical Extraction Report Language (PERL), but since that time multiple versions have been released utlizing a variety of programming languages and features (Chawner, 2006).

B. Development of Wikis
While wikis appeared 9 years ago, they have gained enormous popularity within the past 2 years.Wikis are being enthusiastically used in the fields of business, education, library science, and information management (McPhereson, 2006).
Wikis have grown in popularity and versatility making it difficult to accurately number the total in existence today. SwitchWiki lists over one thousand public access wikis, but there are many more private wikis that are restricted to specific groups. These are known as GatedCommunities (Chawner, 2006).
Wikis have had such core features as ease of editing, simple markup, and automatic linking of pages from the very beginning. But as the popularity of wikis has grown, extra features have been addede to the wiki. Among these evolving features are a command to compare the current version of a page with earlier versions, and one that allows the browsing of recent changes to the wiki pages (Chawner, 2006).
Probably the most widely known development among wikis is the Wikipedia project. Wikipedia was begun in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. There desire was to build a free, open content encyclopedia using wiki technology. A of December 2005, Wikipedia had some 880,000 articles listed in English (Chawner, 2006).

C. Types of Wikis
Leuf and Cunningham (2001) identify six types or groupings of wikis based upon read-and-edit access permissions. They are as follows:
1. fully open - anyone can have full access.
2. lockable - rescricted editing for some or all of the wiki pages.
3. gated - some public pages but other pages that are restricted to authorized users.
4. members-only - access is limited to registered users.
5. firewalled - access is restricted to a range of specific IP addresses.
6. personal - access is limited to a specific computer or site.

III: Wikis that can be used in the classroom

A: Wikiversity http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page
This wiki is covering the area of creation and use of free learning materials and activities. According with its creators, Wikiversity is a multidimensional social organization dedicated to learning, teaching, research and service. Its first goal is to create and host free content, multimedia learning materials, resources, and curricula for all age groups in all languages. Second, the group wants to develop collaborative learning projects and communities around these materials. Students and educators are invited to join this wiki community as editors of this wiki-website where all its free members can edit the pages. This is a good wiki site to encourage research in the classroom.

B:Wikisource http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Main_Page
This wiki is committed to develop a collection of free content works. The information that students are going to find and share are free content documentation as well information that has been licensed which works in the public domain whether a specific license or condition is allowed. Although Wikisource is not an public edit wiki, editors can contribute to new and original works by adding value to existing publications. Entirely new documents are not appropriate in this wiki, but students can share and contribute their projects to its wiki sister Wikibooks.

C: Wikispecies http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
This wiki is a free directory of species where its immense species information coves the animalia, plantae, Fungi, Bacteria, Archaea, Protista and all other forms of life. Its actual content has 95,779 articles a fascinating conglomerate of information that can be very useful in any science classroom.

IV: Using wikis in the classroom

A: Why use a wiki?
Why use a wiki in education? Wikis allow students to experience the flat world of horizontal connections and contributions (Sharreski, 2006). By allowing students to interact with the material and create their own ideas which fosters an increased interest in and understanding of the material. Students today have grown up to be very comfortable with and speaking the language of technology (Mader, n.d.). Students expect a learning environment that supports multitasking and collaboration. Rather than bemoaning the fact that students no longer wish to learn in a structured linear fashion, it is our job as educators to learn to speak the language of the student and adapt to tools that foster a sense of contribution and collaboration.

Check out this "Why use wiki video"!




B:Student Technology Culture
According to Hirsch (2005) students between the ages of 8 and 18 years of age spend an average of 6 and one half hours a day online. Much of that time is spent in one to one communication but students also use technology that allows them to collaborate with one another.
The standard objection to the use of wikis in education is that if anyone can change anything in the document, that chaos will ensue. However, it seems that wikis encourage a sense of community among the users and contributors that creates a shared ownership in the context. In addition, the software behind wikis allows for previous versions of the document to be recovered, which allows the chaos to be minimized.



C: Why teach writing with wikis?
What students need to learn is how to write effectively online (Pease, 2007). This includes the ability to design websites, blogging, and contributing to wikis. Students are motivated to write online because of the potential for an audience beyond their classroom teacher (McPherson, 2006a). Writing online also encourages students to view the writing process as a social process rather than a solitary one.Writing online in a context such as a wiki requires that students learn not only writing skills but also how to negotiate, cooperate, and collaborate. In addition, while writing online students also can model good writing skills to one another and learn to respect another person's thoughts and ideas. In addition, the use of a wiki allows more latitude for student creativity in the content of their writings - in a wiki students can add hyperlinks and video content that is unavailable to them in tradtional written work.



D: Got control issues?
However, the effective use of wikis in schools requires that teachers give over control of the content to the students (Achterman, 2006). Students need a sense of autonomy in the content of the wiki. This autonomy is necessary for students so they can experience the independent and self-directed learning that is part of the Web 2.0 world. However, when using wikis in education teachers must ensure that students acquire the necessary information literacy skills. This may require that teachers provide students with "support, structure, and instruction when they lack the skills" (Achterman, 2006, p. 20). However, when assigning a writing project for students McPherson (2006a) recommends that teachers provide students with some guidance about when and where text can be changed, the type of content that can be added to the wiki, what makes good feedback, and appropriate online behaviors. Students must also understand what level of participation in the collaborative writing process is expected and the tools and technologies that are available to assist students with their work.



E: It's a wild Web 2.0 world out there!
The web 2.0 world of the read/write web requires that educators "rethink the concept of literarcy" and how we define literarcy (Richardson, 2006 p 26). It is not as simple as moving students from the traditional writing methods to collaborative writing on the web. In the web 2.0 world, students need to not only learn to read and write to be literate but also must be able to identify the source of information and evaluate the information and make judgments about it. Educators in the web 2.0 world must teach students to not just passively accept information, but to interact and engage with material (McPherson, 2006b)


F: Wiki what?
There are two basic types of wikis (McPherson, 2006b). The first type of wiki is the public wikis such as wikipedia. The second type of wikis are those created specifically for and by teachers and students, which are known as classroom-based wikis.
The usability of public wikis in education is determined primarily by how readable the wiki content is for the developmental level of the students, the accessibility to the internet, the educational objective of the use of the wiki, and the student's ability to effectively evaluate the content of the wiki (McPherson, 2006b).


G: Frustrated much?
Most of the public wikis require a minimum of a 7th grade reading level. Students who have not achieved this reading level will likely become frustrated when using a public wiki. Before using a public wiki in their instruction, it is recommended that teachers first run a reading level diagnostic on the content.Furthermore, students can become quite frustrated if their school does not have sufficient internet bandwith to make using a wiki practical (McPherson, 2006b). Economically disadvantaged children can be especially disadvantaged because of the digital divide.Teachers must advocate for schools to provide adqueate internet access for that students can participate in the Web 2.0 world.Developing effective learning objectives for the use of wikis in education requires that teachers ask themselves questions such as: "what information literacy skills are unique to this format? Can this literacy be learned faster or more clearly with another technology, Is this a good use of my time?" (McPherson, 2006b, p. 68).


H: So what can I do with a wiki?
Some of the ideas about using wikis in education include assignments that help student learn to create simple websites, learning the process of ansynchronous project collaboration, learning to work together as a group as authors, data collection, and the presentation of findings and ideas (Pease, 2007). For example, with the use of a wiki, students do not require any special knowledge or training in order to get the project done.
Teachers can also use a wiki to guide students through the process of writing a research paper. Students can start by placing the resources on the wiki, begin the writing process, and the other students as well as the instructor can provide guidance and feedback throughout the process. Wikis also allow group authors to pull together as a community and track the group's progress on a writing project in ways that email attachments do not allow.

For further discussion of the uses of wikis in higher education follow this link: http://www.scienceofspectroscopy.info/edit/index.php?title=Using_wiki_in_education

I: Ideas for using wikis across the developmental age span
One wiki website shared the following ideas for how K-12 teachers could incorporate wikis into their instruction:

• Provide a space for free writing
• Debate course topics, including assigned readings
• Share resources such as annotated bibliographies, websites, effective writing samples, conferences, calls for manuscripts
• Maintain a journal of work performed on group projects
• Require students to collaborate on documents, such as an essay written by the entire class
• Discuss curricular and instructional innovations
• Encourage students to revise Wikipedia pages or take on new wikipedia assignments
• Inspire students to write a Wikibook
• Support service learning projects (i.e. use wikis to build a website about a challenge in their city

J: Ideas for using wikis in elementary schoolOne idea for using a wiki in an elementary school seeing includes using wikis to have students record and share their thoughts on books assigned in their Literature circles. Other uses of wikis for this age group include having students collaborate on their science fair projects. Achtermann (2006) describes a wiki encyclopedia created for and edited by elementary school students called the NeighborhoodWiki. Other ideas include using a wiki as a place for elementary students to post collections of work, student-created study guides, and links to pages of interest. A project suggestion using wikis in the elementary schools made by McPherson (2006a) was to have students create a class animal alphabet wiki that uses pictures, video, and links to information about the animal.



K: Using wikis in Middle School

Engstrom and Jewitt (2005) make the following suggestions for educators who wish to use wikis for a collaborative project in middle school:

• Make certain the teachers have the necessary professional development necessary to manage the project
• Teachers should model the collaboration process for their students. For example, inviting others to comment on drafts of the project and loosening the edit restrictions placed on students
• Teachers should provide prompts to students within the wiki that encourages more than surface thinking and invites students to look at an issue from multiple perspectives

A traditional school computer lab model does not work for students work with wikis. Teachers need to assign students to work in cooperative groups with assigned roles such as:

• Wiki recorder
• Research note taker
• Discussion facilitator

L: Using wikis in High Schools
Bolin, Canada, and Cullin (2007) discuss way in which libraries can use Web 2.0 tools such as wikis to engage teens. These include the use a wiki or social book marking to post information about events and new content within the library. In high school students can use a wiki to create stories with multiple beginnings and endings (McPherson, 2006a). Geography can be taught using wikimapia to add text and bookmarks to maps. Teachers can also set up a wiki for high school students work in groups to create poems or other literature.


M: If you want to know how to use wikis in Language Arts, check out this podcast!




N: Higher education can use wikis too
In higher education, wikis are often used to teach collaborative writing (Lamb, 2004).
Wikis used in this way promote students learning of editing and revision skills that are necessary to a well-written and organzied paper. The promotion of collaboration and cooperation skills is valuable to the future employers of students.


O: Teachers can also use wikis
One way that wikis can be used both in k-12 and higher education instruction is to support meeting planning (Lamb, 2004). The wiki can be used to allow an agenda for the meeting to be drawn up and then for attendees of the meeting to take minutes or notes about what occurred at the meeting. Faculty can also use wikis to build a collaborative list of course resources, course outlines, and make suggestions for improvement.
A wiki for teachers to share lessons plans on using wikis: http://openlessons.wikispaces.com/

An interview: http://educationbridges.net/k12opensource/?p=10

A video of using a wiki for writing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NRbbskf3cA
Will Richardson recommends that teachers can use Wikis to teach their students to read critically, edit other people’s work, write collaboratively and develop a library of creative, finely-tuned, engaging and exciting lessons. Richardson W (2006). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and other Powerful Webtools for Classrooms.”


P: Do you want to know how teachers use wikis, check this video out!



Q:Teaching writing with wikis

Dr. Curt Bonk suggested that Wikis can be used in education for free writing, writing debates of course topics and readings, sharing resources, maintaining group progress journal, writing group essays, revising entries, and writing wikibooks. Bonk (2007). “Podcasts, Wikis and Blogs. Oh My! Online Learning is not in Kansas Anymore” at http://mypage.iu.edu/~cjbonk/streamed.html

V: Creating, editing, adding content and customizing wikis

A: Do you want to know how to creat a new wiki page, check this video out !


B: Do you want to learn how to add, edit and format the content of a wiki page, then check this video out!

C: If you want to know how to add video on a wiki spreadsheet, this video is for you!

D: Do you want to learn how to edit and add content to a wiki, check this video out!


VI: References:



Achterman, D. (2006). Beyond wikipedia. Teacher Librarian, 34, 19-22. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Add and edit pages with media wiki. (2006). Retrieved April 12, 2007 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gbMNhnl1SU

Bolan, K., Canada, M., & Cullin, R. (2007). Teen Services 2.0. Young Adult Library Service, 5, 40-43. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Bonk, C. (2007). “Podcasts, Wikis and Blogs. Oh My! Online Learning is not in Kansas Anymore” Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://mypage.iu.edu/~cjbonk/streamed.html

Chawner, B. & Lewis, P.H. (2006). WikiWikiWebs: New ways to communicate in a web environment. Information Technology and Libraries, 25(1), 33-43. Retrieved April 5, 2007 from the Academic Search Premier database at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Ellerbeck, M. (2006). Spoken version of wiki. Retrieved April 12, 2007 from http://www.archive.org/details/en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Wiki_2007_March_14

Engstrom, M.E., & Jewett, D. (2005). Collaborative learning the wiki way. TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, 49, 12-68. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Essex, C. (2006). Wiki resources. Retrieved April 5, 2007 from
http://teachwtech.blogspot.com/2006/03/k-12-wiki-resources.html

Fancy a wiki (n.d.) Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://www.slideshare.net/sevans59/fancy-a-wiki/

Garza, S.L., & Hern, T. (2006). Using wikis as collaborative writing tools. Retrieved April 12, 2007 from
http://critical.tamucc.edu/wiki/WikiArticle/Home

Hirsch, J. (2005). Learning collaboratively with technology. School Administrator, 62(7), 10-15.

Hubbard, J. (n.d.) Why wiki. Retrieved April 12, 2007 from
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2511172895096134553&q=wiki&hl=en

Intro to class wiki (2006). Retrieved April 12, 2007 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NRbbskf3cA
Kalmbeck, J. (n.d.) Techology and the face of language arts in the classroom. Retrieved March 30, 2007 from http://twt.cas.ilstu.edu/node/205

Lamb, B. (2004). Wide open spaces: Wikis ready or not, Educause review, 39, 36-48. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier at: www.academicsearcherpremier.com

Mader, S. (n.d.) Four letter words: how wiki and edit are making the internet a better learning tool. http://www.wikiineducation.com/display/ikiw/Four+Letter+Words+-+How+wiki+and+edit+are+making+the+Internet+a+better+teaching+tool

Mannix, M. (2001). 20 minute Twiki tutorial. Retrieved March 31, 2007 from http://koala.ilog.fr/wiki/bin/view/TWiki/TWikiTutorial

Moxley, J., Morgan, M.C., Barton, M., & Hanak, D. (n.d.). Writing Wiki. Retrieved April 21, 2007 from http://writingwiki.org/default.aspx/WritingWiki/For%20Teachers%20New%20to%20Wikis.html http://twt.cas.ilstu.edu/node/205

Moxley, J., Morgan, M.C., Barton, M., & Hanak, D. (n.d.). Writing Wiki for Teachers. Retrieved April 21, 2007 from http://writingwiki.org/default.aspx/WritingWiki/For%20Teachers%20New%20to%20Wikis.html http://twt.cas.ilstu.edu/node/205

McPherson, K. (2006a). Wikis and student writing. Teacher Librarian, 34, 70-72 . Retrieved March 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier at: www. academicsearchpremier.com

McPherson, K. (2006b). Wikis and literacy development. Teacher Librarian, 14811782, 34, 67-69. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from academic search premier at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Open lessons (2007). Retrieved March 30, 2007 from http://openlessons.wikispaces.com/

Richardson, W. (2005). The educator’s guide to the read/write web. Educational Leadership, 63, 24-27. Retrieved March 12, 2007 from Academic Search Premier at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Skiba, D. (2005). Do your students wiki? Nursing Education Perspectives, 26(2), 120-121. Retrieved April 1, 2007 from the Academic Search Premier database at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Shareski, D. (2005). Are Wikis worth the time? Yes. Leading and Learning with Technology, December/January, 6-7, Retrieved March 31, 2007 from Academic Search premier at www.academicsearchpremier.com

Teaching wiki (n.d.) Retrieved March 31, 2007 from http://teachingwiki.org/default.aspx/TeachingWiki/Home%20Page.html

Using Wiki in Education (2007). Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://www.scienceofspectroscopy.info/edit/index.php?title=Using_wiki_in_education

Using wikis in learning and teaching (2007). Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http//www.sddu.leeds.ac.uk/online_resources/wikis/wiki_tandl.html

Wales, J. (2006). Vision, Wikipedia, and free culture. Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://www.fora.tv/fora/fora_player.php?c=362&u=0&t=76101&s

Watch out! Videos in your spreadsheets. (2007). Retrieved April 15, 2007 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FFGTzHs39c&eurl=

What is a wiki? (2007). Retrieved March 31, 2007 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmByB0sIPog

Wiki in the K-12 classroom. (2006). Retrieved March 12, 2007 from http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Wiki_in_a_K-12_classroom

Wikisource. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2007 from http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Main_Page

Wikispecies (2007) Retrieved April 21, 2007 from http://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Wikiversity (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2007 from http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Wikiversity:Main_Page

Prepared by:
Susan Bray sbray@leo.tamu-commerce.edu
David Edwards dtedwards1990@sbcglobal.net
Orlando Pangilinan orlandodp@sbcglobal.net

To our visitors,

Please leave a comment after visiting our project. Did we add to your understanding of wikis as instructional tools? Do you have questions about wikis that we failed to answer? We appreciate your comments.
Like most wikis, this is a work in progress. If you want to add more information that will add value to this page, please apply to be a writer and we'll accept your valuable contributions.

Thanks and happy wikiing,
The moderators