Leslie+and+Nikki+Wikis+in+the+Classroom

LINKS TO CREATE OWN WIKI www.wikispaces.com http://classroomgoogleearth.wikispaces.com
 * The first Wiki was created by Ward Cunningham in 1994. **
 * They can be described as “open cocktail parties.” **
 * Allows for collaboration; however, downfall is anyone can change or delete any information. The positive is that any spam can be immediately removed. **
 * In a Wiki, individual tries to speak without a strong voice seeking consensus to create something permanent versus a blog where the individual develops his or her own voice and it is very much about that voice. **
 * Teachers can use wikis to facilitate teaching, writing development, and learning in the classrooms by… **
 * Provide a space for free writing
 * Debate course topics, including assigned readings
 * Share resources such as annotated bibliographies, websites, effective writing samples, conferences
 * 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)
 * Post activities and students respond to them
 * Post thematic unit and lessons can be put into folders and students have access to notes, discussions and past projects. Within the teacher notes – provide links to other website resources for students to access. It becomes an instant student resource.
 * Students post their projects.
 * Post grading and rubrics for parents.
 * Examples of uses of wikis in K-12 **
 * ** Science Fair Projects ** - A wiki could be set up for students to brainstorm ideas for and plan science fair projects. Initially it would mostly be brainstorming, posting ideas and information to back them up. As they begin to flesh out the ideas that they are interested in, small groups might form to work on individual projects, but could still contribute ideas to other projects. The teacher can act as a facilitator by offering suggestions and asking probing questions to get students to consider particular aspects in the planning of their projects. The wiki could also be used to record and organize data, and plan eventual papers/presentations.
 * ** Collaboration Between Teachers ** - Teachers could work together creating lesson plans, track how the lessons are being implemented in their various classrooms, give suggestions - this could be a few teachers in the same middle school doing an interdisciplinary unit, or teachers of the same subject in distant places working on the same unit together.
 * ** Literature Circles in Elementary School ** - Elementary students can all read the same book and then are required to answer questions about the material and pose questions. A Wiki would be a perfect way to integrate technology into their Lit Circles. Instead of sharing their thoughts on paper, they could post them to the wiki, respond to their peers thoughts or questions and best of all preserve this work for the next class to review at sometime during their exploration of the same novel.

Leslie: I have not used Wikis in the classroom. I have never really had an idea how to do so until taking this class. I feel confident that from the resources I have now that I will now be able to do this come September. In September, I would like to use Wiksi to post a thematic unit and have students use it in school to become user-friendly with Wikis. After this goal is accomplished, I think in January I would like to have students respond to different questions of the week as a part of morning work activities. Not sure how I would grade this!!! Any suggestions?

Nikki: I also have not used Wikis in the classroom. Honestly, I have tried to stay clear of them with the fear of someone editing my content. However, after attending this class, I have changed my opinion on Wiki sites and do plan on creating my own site and exploring more in this area. I found it very easy and helpful to have the Wiki site to post all class activities and projects, even though it was completely new for me. I have certainly learned a great deal in a short amount of time. My goal for this school year was to improve teacher/parent communication and a Wiki site for that purpose alone would be beneficial and worthwhile.