Why+wiki

What is a Wiki and Why Do I Need One?

Wiki means "fast" in Hawaiian and to put it simply, a wiki is a fast and simple web site creation tool. Wikis also allow visitors to contribute and modify content which makes them a powerful social networking tool. If you have accessed **Wikipedia** for quick information, you have used a wiki. Unfortunately, Wikipedia is often discounted in academic circles because, while a fantastic resource, it can be edited by anyone in the world. Herein lies a troubling paradox...a collective, global, dynamic information source that is subject to misinformation and vandalism. As an educational tool however, wikis offer an avenue for connection and collaboration that has amazing potential.

**Check out "Wikis in Plain English" for a very bare bones explanation of a wiki.** **...another great video by Common Craft**

=So Why Use This Technology in a Classroom? = = = = =
 * **For a Class Web Page--**Wikis can be a valuable, class specific resource. Teachers can upload a class syllabus, expectations, homework assignments, lecture notes and powerpoint presentations, handouts, study guides, calendars etc. They can also include links to useful websites that relate to the class and even use the discussion board as a sort of help desk. This makes them a great tool for differentiating instruction by allowing students to review material outside of class, and perhaps provideing resources for remediation and enrichment.


 * **For linking websites** **for your students to use--**Wikis can be an easly way to link resources for your students and parents. Instead of sending home url addresses, you can create a link on your wiki for your students to use.


 * **For easy communication** **with parents and students--**No need to email remainders home, just post your information (calendars, messages, updates) on your wiki**.** Need something for your classroom, set up a google doc and get results in a snap.


 * **For Discussion Boards--**Wikis can be used to host online discussion topics that reach beyond classroom walls...even across curriculums and countries! Most institutions of higher learning require students to use this type of technology, so get them started so they know how. Many students are already doing this type of thing in MySpace, Facebook and Youtube, so they are familiar with it from a social standpoint. Harness the power of social networking for your classroom! Discussion boards are also great formative assessment and differentiation tools because they allow can a glimpse into each students individual thinking.


 * **For Collaborative or Individual Projects--**students can use wikis to create and manage and present group presentations and projects. No longer will you hear "so and so isn't here today and he has all our stuff." In fact "so and so" can now be held accountable for contributing from HOME if absent during a group work day! This type of online collaboration can even cut down on the amount of class time spent working on group projects. Homework can also become less isolated and more collaborative as students can connect with their teacher and peers anytime, anwhere! Most other web 2.o tools like Glogster, Animoto, Toondoo, Wix, Youtube, and many others can be embedded right into a wiki for creating dynamic multimedia website projects. Since wikis are on the web, they also provide a genuine audience for these projects, whether it be just the classroom, the school or the entire world. Wikis give you the control to define this.


 * **For Electronic Portfolios--**because many types of files can be uploaded to a wiki, students can create individual wikipages to host their work. Students can easily upload photostories, movies, podcasts, powerpoints, word documents, google earth projects and other files. This portfolio can grow with a student through a school year or even their entire high school experience.


 * **For Peer to Peer Sharing--**because postings can be viewed by other wiki members, students can learn from each other and review and respond to each others work via discussion boards. This provides a genuine audience for projects and can eliminate using valuable class time for presentations because students can review projects on their own time. Students can even create wikis designed to teach concepts to other members of the class or other classes and embed quizzes or evaluations using google docs or survey monkey.


 * **For Designing Webquests**-- It used to be that these were fairly tricky to design from scratch, but wikis make it extremely easy. Add directions, create links and utilize discussion boards to guide students through learning outside of your classroom walls. You can even embedd quizzes with Google Docs or Survey Monkey to gather instant assessment data.

==Want to See Some Examples? or are youReady to get started? ==