Wikis

=Lesson 2=

**Totally Wicked...**
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What makes a musical such as //The Wiz// or //Wicked// such a crowd pleaser? In part it is the masterful choreography of large ensembles. A wiki is a website that facilitates similarly collaborative teamwork. It uses read-write technology to allow a group--whether a class or the wider web community--to create a collective resource in which the whole can be greater than the sum of its parts. "How to Be a Wizard in Web 2.0"--created by five members of the Westminster webstrikeforce--is an example.

A computer with internet access. That's it!
 * Equipment Needed for this assignment:[[image:wiki6-3.jpg width="207" height="133" align="right" caption="Wiki Wiki bus at Honolulu International Airport "]]**

The word "wiki" comes from the Hawaiian word for "fast" or "quick" and refers to the speed and ease of creating these websites.
 * Step 1: What is a wiki?**

It is certainly apropos to use the definition from the [|Wikipedia entry on wikis]: //"A **wiki** is software that allows registered users or anyone to collaboratively create, edit, link, and organize the content of a website, usually for reference material. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites. These wiki websites are often also referred to as// //wikis; for example, Wikipedia is one of the best known wikis. Wikis are used in businesses to provide affordable and effective intranets and for Knowledge Management . Ward Cunningham , developer of the first wiki, WikiWikiWeb , originally described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work."//

This short video explains the usage of wiki's in a clear and funny way. media type="youtube" key="-dnL00TdmLY" width="410" height="340"

Wikis are simple to create and easy to use. They encourage collaboration and shared knowledge construction. They are often built and edited by many users at once. Wikis are powerful, flexible containers for content. Teachers and students can use wikis for publishing, organizing, and sharing virtually any content – professional, creative or academic.
 * Step 2: Why wikis in education?**


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Step 3: Wiki Tour** Take some time to explore the following wikis.
 * Middle school wiki created by students to better understand and introduce topics related to the Amistad incident and the Industrial Revolution - http://kmsamistad5.wikispaces.com/
 * High school students discuss utopian ideas in culture and create their own - http://discoveryutopias.wikispaces.com/
 * Middle School Science Website resource with class resources, videos, pictures and much more - http://bergmannscience.wikispaces.com/
 * Spanish Class Wiki - http://bishopblogs.wikispaces.com/
 * 4th Grade Reading Class Wiki - http://kublerreading.wikispaces.com
 * "The Flat Classroom Project is a global, collaborative project using Web 2.0 tools to foster communication, collaboration and creation" - http://flatclassroomproject2008.wikispaces.com/
 * British Romanticism high school wiki - http://britishromanticism.wikispaces.com/
 * Sixth grade classroom wiki - []
 * Third graders share their learning about Westward Expansion along the Oregon Trail - http://gowest.wikispaces.com
 * Primary school art class website and online gallery - http://hemingart.wikispaces.com
 * Elementary Collaborative Writing - http://terrythetennisball.wikispaces.com/
 * First Grade Learning to write - http://room4-wiki.wikispaces.com/


 * Step 4: Follow the steps below to create your own Wiki.**

There are many different resources that offer free wikis, including Wikispaces.com, PBwiki.com, and WetPaint.com. We will be using [|wikispaces.com] to walk you through the process of creating your own wiki. Wikispaces offers many advantages for educators, and we have found it to be very user friendly. > //If you change your mind and want to change your space visibility type at a later time, follow these steps: a) In the 'Actions' menu on the left, click 'Manage Space' b) Under the 'Space Settings' section click 'Members and Permissions' c) In the 'Space Permissions' section click 'Select' for Public, Protected, or Private.//
 * 1) Open a new window so you can switch between this page of instructions and the Wikispaces site.
 * 2) Enter the [|Wikispaces site] ([|http://www.wikispaces.com).]
 * 3) Under the **Join Now!** Section, go ahead and choose a username and password (at least 6 letters long). Try to choose something that is easy for you to remember. Sometimes the username you would like might already be in use by another member. If this is the case, they will let you know, and you will need to choose an alternate username. Disregard "Step 4 Space name" for now.
 * 4) Click on the "Make a New Space" link.
 * 5) Choose a name for your new space. Again, keep it simple and easy to remember.
 * 6) Decide what type of "Space Visibility" you would like to have for your new space. Choose either "Public" meaning everyone can view and edit your pages, or "Protected" meaning everyone can view your pages, but only space members can edit them. (As with the username, sometimes the space name you would like might already be in use by another member. If this is the case, they will let you know, and you will need to choose an alternate space name).
 * 1) Click create page.
 * 2) The page you are taken to is the new homepage for your new wiki.
 * 3) The tutorial section that appears is also available under help in the under right corner of your wiki.
 * 4) After reviewing the help guide close out the window and proceed to your wiki.
 * 5) The first thing you will want to do is request a complimentary upgrade to Plus for K-12 education. This will eliminate the ads that are currently part of your page. To do this, click on the "Manage Space" tab on the top left. Scroll down until you see the section titled "Space Settings." Click on "Subscription" and scroll down and click on "Request yours now" to receive a complimentary Plus service for any space that is being used exclusively for K-12 education.
 * 6) Click on the Home link on the left to return to your homepage.
 * 7) Click on "edit" in the upper right corner to begin editing your wiki.
 * 8) Wikispaces has created an excellent help section (http://www.wikispaces.com/help) that will walk you through creating an amazing wiki full of basic and advanced features. This page will take you through everything you need to know from editing you page, creating new pages, adding pictures and movies, and so much more!
 * 9) The tutorial videos below are also helpful for guiding you through the creation of your wiki.
 * 10) Good luck and have fun!


 * The following tutorials provide detailed directions for editing Wikispaces**
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Right click on video to open in YouTube


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Below are some excellent resources about wikis. I would highly recommend taking some time to browse through these sites to gain a better understanding of wikis before creating your own. > Great overview of basic wiki features plus lots of ideas for classroom wikis, including a specific section for younger grades. > WetPaint Wikis in Education Wiki - []
 * Step 6: Wiki Resources**
 * Examples of Educational Wikis - http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis
 * TeachersFirst Wiki Walkthrough - []/
 * EDUCAUSE: 7 things you should know about... Wiki - http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf
 * Classroom uses for Wikis - []
 * Wiki Rubric - []&
 * Rubric for Collaborative Wiki - []&
 * Rubric for Individual Contribution To A Group Wiki - []&

When you have finished with Lesson 2, proceed to Lesson 3: Tooting Your Horn in the 21st Century with Blogs and Podcasts
 * NEXT**