Wikis_k12

** Description **
A wiki, the name of which comes from the Hawaiian word for "quick," is a Web 2.0 tool that allows people to interact, communicate, and collaborate with one another using a web browser. The wiki behaves like a combination of a webpage and a text-editing document but instead of having a single author and existing in a read-only format, there may be multiple authors who are able to edit and contribute content to the page. Content is usually not restricted to simple text in a wiki but can include hyperlinks, images, and other media.

There are three types of wikis available for teachers and schools:

**Open-Source/Public Domain Solutions**: An externally hosted wiki server option. This is a free web hosting service that individuals can use by simply signing up for an account through a wiki site. These sources usually provide a basic service and limited server space, enabling people to try out the services and decide if they want to pay for a hosted version. One example is PB Works for Teachers

**Hosted Solutions**: These are externally hosted wiki options. It is now common for wiki hosting companies to have both a fee-based hosted solution as well as free options. Usually, fee-based hosted wikis offer more advanced services and storage than free services. Many fee-based companies have plans for education wikis.

**Purchased Solutions**: These are wikis that are hosted on a personal or school's in-house webserver. One example is the wiki server that is bundled with Apple's Mac OS X server software.

** History **
In 1994, Ward Cunningham created the first wiki which ran on his company's website at c2.com. He developed the wiki concept in order to facilitate communication among software developers. He chose the name "WikiWikiWeb" as the name for this service based on his memories of the "Wiki Wiki Shuttle" at the Honolulu International Airport. the concept was very successful and led to other wiki sites. Before 1994, there were several historical precursors to the wiki including Vannevar Bush's proposal of the "memex " system in 1945, the hypertext database ZOG in 1972, and Apple's HyperCard in 1987. It was the development of the World Wide Web in the 1990's however that made the creation of wikis practical. 13

** School Management: **
In the world of education as well as with other group activities, the standard for communicating information, policies, or learning content has long been the face-to-face meeting. In education particularly, it is becoming more difficult to find times when all participants can be in the same place at the same time when planning and development time has been lost in order to maximize instructional time. E-mail is often used as a substitute for meeting and planning time but using e-mail in this manner is cumbersome at best and can place unreasonable demands on school mail servers. The traditional website is useful for the dissemination of information in one direction but does not generally allow for participant feedback. Wikis, on the other hand, allow anyone who has been given editing privileges to contribute to and modify content submitted by others. The wiki can be used as a planning and meeting tool both synchronously and asynchronously.

** Instructional Use: **
The use of the Web 2.0 tools and particularly wikis in the classroom, has the potential to dramatically change the way in which learning and teaching takes place. Students have changed dramatically in the last few years. 21st century students are not well served by 19th and 20th century teaching styles. Most students in the modern high school can be considered as "digital natives. 12 " These students spend a great portion of their waking hours connected digitally. The use of the wiki in learning and teaching directly addresses the skill sets that will be necessary for collaboration and knowledge creation in the world in which our students will live and work.


 * ~ ==** Teachers and Students talk about using Wikis in education ** == ||~  ||   ||
 * media type="youtube" key="n3F-Q540_es?fs=1" height="385" width="640" || //"Students get to reflect and 'talk' to each other about historical and political questions in ways that are serious, but still connect to their real lives. And students who think deeply but are not as verbal in class have a chance to share their ideas and insights. I think the students in the class know each other better (and I understand them better) as a result of using wiki. And students become more confident, after using wiki, about sharing their ideas in class. It helps break down the walls."// **- Amy Perruso, a Social Studies teacher at Miliani High School**

|| //"Overall, I think it's a positive thing because it's not as conventional as things like essays or formal assignments that you have to print out and turn in...it seems a little more flexible and a different, interesting way to discuss books or other assignment where we can express our thoughts in a less formal environment "// **- McKenna Dooley, a Senior at Miliani High School**

||

** Benefits of Using Wikis in the School Setting **
There are a number of benefits inherent in the use of wikis in the classroom to enhance learning and teaching. One of these is that wikis can be utilized both as synchronous (all students meet at the same time) or asynchronous (students access the wiki at different times as needed) meeting places. Some other benefits that have been noted are: 2


 * ~ ===** Development of Skills ** === ||~ ===** Addresses Pedagogical Needs ** ===

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** of Students **
||~ ===<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Accessibility ** === ||
 * * Develops critical thinking skills
 * Develops investigative skills
 * Develops skills for negotiating conflict
 * Develops technological skills
 * Develops teamwork skills
 * Develops communication skills (writing skills) || * Allows student to become an active participant
 * Connects old knowledge with new knowledge
 * Empowers students to create knowledge
 * Allows those who are quieter to share their ideas || * Is easily available - just need access to the Internet; don't need to download any software
 * Is easy to use
 * Allows individuals to work on it any time from any location
 * Documents revisions ||
 * ~ ===<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Creativity ** === ||~ ===<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Allows for Interactivity ** ===

||~ ===<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Builds a class community ** ===

||
 * * Encourages creativity
 * Engagement || * Enables use of multimedia
 * Creates ownership
 * Interpersonal/Collaborative || * Encourages learning from others
 * Facilitates teamwork
 * Facilitates collaborative authoring ||

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Practical Applications **

 * Educators are already using wikis in a number of creative ways. At one local high school, a wiki was used to provide a meeting place for a blended/Hybrid AP Course that was held outside of the school's calendar and bell-schedule. Meeting times were flexible and student-driven. (MHS APEH)
 * Wikis are being used to enhance and extend Professional Learning Communities and to provide a working environment for collaboration on accreditation documents. (FOL Wiki)
 * Some teachers are using wikis as a venue for collaborative group activities, for responding to assignment prompts, and for groups to work together on large projects such as National History Day and State Science and Engineering Fair. (Pre-AP Wiki)

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Examples of Wiki hosting sites **
Three examples of free or low-cost wiki solutions can be found at:
 * ===<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Wikispaces ** === || ===<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #404040; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Wikidot ** === || ===<span style="font-size: 1.1em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">**<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #404040; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">PBWorks ** === ||
 * [[image:etecproj:wikispaces.png link="@http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers"]] || [[image:etecproj:wikidot.png link="@http://www.wikidot.com/learnmore:education"]] || [[image:etecproj:pbworks.png link="@http://pbworks.com/http://pbworks.com/content/edu+features?utm_campaign=nav-tracking&utm_source=Home%20navigation"]] ||
 * Wikispaces provides free private wikis for k12 teachers. Wikis allow the embedding of videos and other media. Formatting is WYSIWYG. It is not necessary to learn specialized syntax in order to post, embed or reply to posts. || Wikidot offers both <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|free and premium wiki hosting] . Wikidot allows users of premium services to choose from a wide array of templates and styles. Posting to wikidot wikis requires the use of a specialized syntax. There is a learning curve but high school students and teachers quickly pick up the procedures. || PBWorks provides <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">classroom teachers with secure easy to use online collaboration for their students. It's simple to set up a class or project site and specialized syntax is not required. ||

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** References **
1. Boling, E., Castek, J., Zawilinski, L., Barton, K., & Nierlich, T. (2008). Technology in Literacy Education: Collaborative Literacy: Blogs and Internet Projects. The Reading Teacher, 61(6), 504-506.

2. Boston College. (n.d.). Benefits of Using Wikis in the Classroom. Retrieved from <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|http://idesweb.bc.edu/ides/website/teaching_tools/wikis/][[http://idesweb.bc.edu/ides/website/teaching_tools/wikis/benefits| __ __]][|benefits]

3. Connors, S., & Dominesey, B. (2007). 21st-Century Tools. The Phi Delta Kappan, 89(4).

4. Dede, C. (2009). Technologies That Facilitate Generating Knowledge and Possibly Wisdom. Educational Researcher, 38(4), 260-263.

5. Educause Learning Initiative. (July 2005). 7 Things You Should Know About…Wikis. Retrieved from <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI70][[http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf| __ __]][|04.pdf]

6. Flierl, R., & Fowler, H. (2007). Educational Uses of Blogs and Wikis. The Phi Delta Kappan, 89(3).

7. Greenhow, C., Robelia, B., & Hughes, J. E. (2009). Research on Learning and Teaching with Web 2.0: Bridging Conversations. Educational Researcher, 38(4), 280-283.

8. Knobel, M., & Lankshear, C. (2009). Wikis, Digital Literacies, and Professional Growth. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(7), 631-634.

9. Morgan, B., & Smith, R. D. (2008). Technology in Literacy Education: A Wiki for Classroom Writing. The Reading Teacher, 62(1), 80-82.

10. O'Brien, D., & Scharber, C. (2008). Digital Literacies Go to School: Potholes and Possibilities. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 52(1), 66-68.

11. Phillipson, M. & Hamilton, D. (n.d.) The Romantic Audience Project: A Wiki Experience. Pros and Cons for the Class. Retrieved from <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">@http://www.rc.umd.edu/pedagogies/commons/innovations/rap/pages/prosandcons.htm

12. Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved from <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[|http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky - Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants - Part1.pdf]

13. Wikipedia, The History of Wikis, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">[]

<span style="font-size: 1.3em; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">** Links **
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">AP European History Wiki at Mililani High School

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #404040; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">50 Ways to Use Wikis

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; color: #404040; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 0px;">Wiki In A K-12 Classroom

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Mrs. Perruso's Pre-AP Wiki from Mililani High School

Wikis in Education a collection of online resources

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">How we use Wikis in class from Wetpaint

Planning with Wikis ETEC Projects planning Wiki

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Tearing Down the Walls with Wiki UH Manoa ETEC649 Learning Object on wikis

About the Author
Jim Petersen is a high school administrator with the HIDOE and a graduate student in the University of Hawaii, Dept. of Educational Technology