ltt » Wiki Session

Exploring wikis in education

This Technolog-e Session will explore some options for using wikis in education. It's not about how to set up a wiki - it's more about the potential for using wikis to enhance our teaching and learning experiences.

Interesting facts and research about wikis which might influence your decision about using them
Example wikis already up and running in education to inspire and motivate you
Where to go to start one
What you can do with a wiki
Have a go at editing a wiki

What is a wiki?

From Wikipedia: A wiki is a website which allows anyone to add or edit content in a collaborative environment.

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Example wikis in education

http://time2learn.wikispaces.com/ - Western Sydney Institute share workshops on emerging technologies being run for staff
http://lt2006.wetpaint.com/ - Learning Technologies Conference, Mooloolaba 2006 companion site. Companion or follow-up to face-to-face workshops or teaching sessions
http://nagoyalaw.pbwiki.com/ - Nagoya Law School, Japan. Collaborative space for students to share general information
http://clcommunity.wikispaces.com/ - Connected Learning Community (project of AFLF). Sharing of resources, ideas, links etc with colleagues.
http://seanfitz.wikispaces.com/ - Sean Fitzgerald’s portfolio wiki. Sharing information, research and advice about technology topics.
http://jokay.wikispaces.com/ - JoKay’s portfolio wiki. Sharing information, research and advice about technology topics.
http://sleducation.wikispaces.com/ - Sean & Jokay’s combined wiki. Collaborative research information site.
http://sridgway.wikispaces.com/ - Stephen Ridgeway’s wiki. Lesson delivery [Tagging in social networks]. Sharing of resources, ideas, links etc with colleagues.
http://ltt.wikispaces.com/ - LTT lesson delivery.
http://digitales.wikispaces.com/ - VET teachers who use digital story telling. Instructions, advice, links etc
http://tvetatchec.wikispaces.com/ - Aubrey Thompson’s wiki. Learning content.

New Additions [Added by Alex without me looking!]

http://illawarra-assessors-network.wikispaces.com - Meeting Minutes online?
http://castingthenetpodcast.blogspot.com - Casting the Net - TAFE NSW
Assessment Validation Workshop Files

Check out everyone's personal profile pages on this wiki for more excellent examples which are current and in use!!!

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Where can I create my own wiki?

There are lots of places on the net where you can go to create your own wiki; some where you are required to download software to your computer, some where you can pay for a more serious version of wiki-making software.

But to make a start with a simple, easy-to-use wiki without having to download anything, here's a list of goodies...

wikispaces - The best option with a wikispace, is to create an educational space. You get a bit more file space on the server and more options to modify the theme.
pbwiki
wetpaint

Here is a simple step-by-step guide to creating a wiki in wikispaces, created by John Pearce

Can I create Bulk accounts for students?

You'll find out if you click on the Help link within the wikispaces site, you'll see a link for teachers!

Have a go!

For some instructions on setting up a wiki, try Start a wiki or have another look at the e-Learning kit's Quick-e on wikis!

e-learning - wikis A4.pdf Don't forget the help section

Tips on developing a Wiki Community

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What's great about wikis?

Students and teachers can share information about a topic easily in one central place
Everyone can participate
Students can actively construct their own learning in a medium they find interesting and interactive
Students (and teachers) don't have to be tech-savvy
Participants can see the development of their ideas over time
A student-centred source of information & knowledge
Encourages students to engage with each other in a non-threatening environment
Promotes pride in accomplishments (publishing on the net for all to see)
Allows for easy access to related and relevant information through web links
Allows for knowledge building
Can be used for presentations, brainstorming & concept mapping, reflections and thoughts, publishing course resources & providing reading material, revision of material and version control, commenting and discussion, authoring, summarising, creating a bibliography...
Stimulates the desire to write

What can I do with my wiki?

Have your students create portfolios
Post assessment task instructions, due dates etc
Provide course structure, learning outcomes & learning content for students
Provide research and information links and have students share what they find
Have students work in teams on projects
Have students publish their work
Provide examples of work for students to model their work from
Upload documents to share / provide reading material
Have students share thoughts and reflections to work in progress
Have students work on a document together, making changes, adding to it etc without problems with document control
Collect student work in one place

Interesting facts and research about wikis

The wiki was dreamed up by an ‘extreme’ programmer by the name of Ward Cunningham in 1995.
The wiki was named after the rapid shuttle buses used at Honolulu airport called wikiwikis.
Wiki is an Hawaiian word meaning ‘quick’.
According to Wikipedia, a Bliki is a Bloki, which is also a Wikilog, Wikiweblog or Wikiblog. Apparently, these are blogs with wiki functions attached.
The world’s oldest wiki developed by Ward can be found at: http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?FrontPage.

Research by the American Library Association found that certain things were popular with teens using online facilities for learning;

• Online quizzes
• Online voting
• Games
• Sharing pictures or stories
• Message boards
• Forums
• Features for creating a website or other ways of adding content

Other research by Johnson & Johnson, 1986 found that teams working collaboratively on projects achieve…

• higher levels of thought;

• longer information retention;

…more so than people who work individually.

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