Wikis in the K12 Classroom

Wikis in the classroom
Patrick Woessner
MICDS Summer Teacher Institute 2010
http://pwoessner.wikispaces.com/Wikis+in+the+Classroom

Workshop Agenda
Why Wikis
Cooperative Learning
Project Based Learning
Authentic Assessment
Classroom Examples
Type -- Tool -- Task
Compare and Create
Wikispaces
Media Wiki
PBworks
Assessing Wikis
Q and A
Image Source: http://spacewithapurpose.wikispaces.com/Wikis+Home

Why Wikis in the classroom?
Support group projects/group authoring
Greater accountability
Connect students and facilitate peer review
Synchronous and asynchronous communication
Organize and distribute resources
Class page/project website
Showcase student work
Control access
Provide timely feedback
Makes learning transparent
Image Source: http://www.jeffstanger.net/blog/

Why Wikis?: Cooperative Learning
Cooperative Learning is a relationship in a group of students that requires positive interdependence (a sense of sink or swim together), individual accountability (each of us has to contribute and learn), interpersonal skills (communication, trust, leadership, decision making, and conflict resolution), face-to-face promotive interaction, and processing (reflecting on how well the team is functioning and how to function even better).
Text Source: http://www.co-operation.org/
Image Source: http://www.worksheetlibrary.com/teachingtips/imagecoopgif.gif

Why Wikis: Project Based Learning
Project Based Learning is an instructional approach built upon authentic learning activities that engage student interest and motivation. These activities are designed to answer a question or solve a problem and generally reflect the types of learning and work people do in the everyday world outside the classroom.
Text Source: http://pbl-online.org/
Image Source: http://www.profoundlearning.com/Content/EducationSolutions/projectBasedLearning.jpg

Why Wikis: Authentic Assessment
Authentic Assessment provides engaging and worthy problems or questions of importance, in which students must use knowledge to fashion performances effectively and creatively. The tasks are either replicas of or analogous to the kinds of problems faced by adult citizens and consumers or professionals in the field.
Text Source: Wiggins, 1993, p. 229
Image Source: http://a100educationalpolicy.pbworks.com/f/1260216782/bigpuzpic.gif

Benefits to students
Opportunities for collaboration
Learn to work together
Learn from each other
Engage every student
Everyone participates/contributes
Extends the learning environment
Resources always available
Improves organization
Provides cohesion to the learning experience
Image Source: http://sciencenotes.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/wiki_web_c-by-andrew-weldon.jpg

Wikis in Plain english

2nd Grade: Winter Olympics
Type: Class Project
Tool: Wikispaces
Task: Class created their own Olympic torch and attempted a “virtual” torch relay. Their goal was to see if they could get their torch to all five regions represented by the Olympic rings.
URL: http://globetrotters.wikispaces.com/Winter+Olympics

5th Grade Geography: Geo-Squirts
Type: Class Page
Tool: Wikispaces
Task: Teacher-managed portal for collaborative projects with other schools; also serves as a showcase for student work.
URL: http://geo-squirts-usa.wikispaces.com/

6th Grade History: Rome and China
Type: Project Wiki
Tool: Wikispaces
Task: Students individually researched a question related to Han China and Imperial Rome. Findings were shared on the wiki and the activity culminated in an oral presentation.
URL: http://romeandchina.wikispaces.com/

7th Grade Science: Evolution
Type: Project Wiki
Tool: MediaWiki
Task: Students (working alone or in pairs) chose one of three questions to research and used the wiki to organize their findings. Final product was an image-based presentation.
URL: http://wiki.micds.org/wiki/The_Evolution_Project

7th Grade English: Animal Farm
Type: Project Wiki
Tool: MediaWiki
Task: Students worked in small groups and completed several tasks that would enable them to teach two chapters of Animal Farm to their peers.
URL: http://wiki.micds.org/wiki/Animal_Farm

8th Grade English: Single Scene Play
Type: Project
Tool: MediaWiki
Task: Working in small groups, students wrote a single scene play that included cast descriptions, stage directions, and dialog.
URL: http://tinyurl.com/wikiplay

9th Grade English: Survivor Island
Type: Project
Tool: Pbworks
Task: Transform “Lord of the Flies” into a cooperative learning experience where groups of students are “stranded” on an island and survival is the goal.
URL: http://lordofsurvival.pbworks.com/

AP Calculus: Solution Manual
Type: Student Resource
Tool: Pbworks
Task: Students help each other learn by writing a collaborative solutions manual that includes a detailed annotation of the steps involved.
URL: http://apcalc2008.pbworks.com/

Advanced Chemistry: Lab Report
Type: Project
Tool: MediaWiki
Task: Students published their lab reports and included statements of contribution and concurrence. Note use of tables and formulas.
URL: http://tinyurl.com/micdschemlab

Global Issues: Wiki Books
Type: Wiki Book
Tool: MediaWiki
Task: Student groups researched and shared aspects of a global issue for different regions of the world. Final product was a “book” on the topic of study.
URL: http://wiki.micds.org/book/Main_Page/Global_Issues

Using Wikis: so easy a mouse can do it
Image Source: http://www.funnytimes.com/playground/img/123470786525169.png

Getting Started: WIKISPACES
Wikispaces provides ad-free wikis for K-12 use at no cost.
Wikispaces Private Label provides additional services and levels of control for an annual fee

Getting Started: WIKISPACES
Strengths:
Very easy to customize, edit, and manage
Video, audio, calendars, documents, and more can be added via Widgets without knowledge of HTML
All Wikispaces you own or to which you belong can be accessed and managed from one central location
Limitations:
Does not support page sections like Mediawiki; only one person can edit a page at any given time
Hosted by Wikispaces; convenient but your data is on someone else’s server

Getting Started: MEDIAWIKI
Mediawikiis free and powerful; Wikipedia is built on the Mediawiki platform
Can be hosted locally or through a hosting service

Getting Started: MEDIAWIKI
Strengths:
Supports page sections for multi-user page editing
Local hosting provides complete control over users and data
Features like the Book Creation Tool and <ref tag are well suited for student research
Limitations:
Requires knowledge of wiki syntax
Design options rather limited; multi-media can be challenging to include on a page

Getting started: PBWORKS
PBworksoffers Basic, Classroom, and Campus editions of their wiki service for K-12 educators
Hosting is provided and upgrading service allows for greater flexibility and control

Getting Started: PBWORKS
Strengths:
Folder structure allows for easy file management
Almost any online tool with an embed code can be used in PBworks.
Classroom and Campus Editions are less expensive than Wikispaces Private Label
Limitations:
No discussion tab; requires posting threaded comments which are visible on main page
Hosted by Pbworks; convenient but your data is on someone else’s server

A word about permissions
Wikis can be public or private
If public, students should not share personal information
If private, you control who can edit and view
Important pages should be locked from editing

Assessing Wikis
Process is as important as Product
Utilize History, in-class observations, & peer review
Read-Write-Think offers a 5 category wiki rubric:
Content
Organization
Attractiveness
Contribution to the Group
Accuracy
Tools like Rubistar and iRubric can greatly aid the rubric creation process and allow for easy collaboration among teachers.

Questions?
Visit the workshop wiki for more information at http://pwoessner.wikispaces.com/Wikis+in+the+Classroom
Feel free to play in our sandbox wiki at http://micdssandbox.wikispaces.com/
Contact me directly at pwoessner@micds.org

http://pwoessner.wikispaces.com	151
http://njea-hth-2011.wikispaces.com	106
http://pwoessner.com	45
http://www.vln.school.nz	20
http://msueduc515.pbworks.com	11
http://mhs-social-studies-department.wikispaces.com	6
http://www.epsilen.com	1
http://static.slidesharecdn.com	1
http://www.slideshare.net	1
http://jrboyd.posterous.com	1
http://kris81	1
http://minerclassed110.wikispaces.com	1

Wikis in the K12 Classroom

by Patrick Woessner on Jun 14, 2010

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Wikis in the K12 Classroom — Presentation Transcript