Wikis

=Wikis in Education=

Do you know what wiki means? A wiki (sometimes spelled "Wiki") is a server program that allows users to collaborate in forming the content of a Web site. With a wiki, any user can edit the site content, including other users' contributions, using a regular Web browser. Basically, a wiki Web site operates on a principle of collaborative trust. The term comes from the word "wikiwiki," which means "fast" in the Hawaiian language. A wiki allows a visitor to the "wikified" Web site to edit the content of the site from their own computer. Visitors can also create new content and change the organization of existing content. The simplest wiki programs allow editing of text and hyperlinks only. More advanced wikis make it possible to add or change images, tables, and certain interactive components such as games

Common Craft has done it again with this introductory video about Wikis media type="youtube" key="-dnL00TdmLY" width="425" height="350"

• Make learning more interesting and engaging • Increase productivity • Ease of communication and collaboration • Media and technology literacy • Creativity and self-expression • Virtual teamwork • Contextual and big picture thinking • Introduction to online ethics • Communication • Collaboration • Creative self-expression • Health care and doctor communication • Banking and financial management • Business meetings • Politics • Goals, scheduling, and planning • Productivity (Sofware as Service) • Customer Service Management • E-commerce • Marketing Is there a part of their lives that won’t be touched and influenced by internet technology?
 * The Case for Wikis and Social Media in the Classroom**
 * How will your students use the web in the future?**

Wiki Etiquette:

 * Keep safe**. Never post your personal information or information about someone else. Keep things like ages, addresses, phone numbers, names of towns, or even places we work off the Internet. Remember that information on the internet, especially embarrassing information, may still be around after you've deleted it. Be careful not to post things that may come back to haunt you later.
 * Be truthful**. Write things you know to be correct using facts from research __//from reliable, credible sources//__.
 * Ask first, then give credit.** Ask an artist's permission to post their photos, pictures or pieces of writing. Never use first and last names of people that could identify them in a photo or video. You must also ask permission when using an idea from a friend, a family member, or even from an acquaintance. After you have his/her permission, then you must ask if you can post his/her name to give him/her credit. If you know anyone who is breaking any part of this rule, it is very important to tell someone who can help immediately
 * Read, re-read, and proof-read before you click ENTER.** Don't rush to make that final . Once you press that button, you can't bring it back. Look everything over and use your spell check to be sure everything is accurate. When you are certain that the editing is complete, then __**save**__ to publish.
 * Information please.** The Internet is a great source of information but information is only useful when it is accurate.
 * Be brief, to the point and logical.** Use breaks in your text and formatting elements to make the page easy to read and understand.

Getting started with wikispaces
[|Wikispaces tour and introduction] [|YouTube tutorials]

Wondering how you would use a wiki in your classroom or why? I have linked to the classroom wikipage in wikispaces which addresses question and has a link to educational wikis for you to look at and possibly get some ideas. http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers sign up for your free wiki at wikispaces for your classroom [|Wild About Wikis] http://team8blue.wikispaces.com Examples of educational wikis

http://villagewiki.pbwiki.com/FrontPage http://connectingandcollaborating.pbwiki.com/Wikis%20in%20the%20Elementary%20Classroom http://waytowiki.pbwiki.com/Must%20see%20wikis http://salutetoseuss.wikispaces.com/ Jennifer Wagner http://mrsmaine.wikispaces.com/
 * Elementary School examples**

http://iatoday.pbwiki.com/
 * High School examples**