Creating a Classroom Wikispace This document provides instructions for creating and customizing a classroom Wikispace. It outlines the key steps, which include: 1. Signing up for a Wikispaces account and creating a new Wiki. Options include public, private or protected access. 2. Customizing the Wiki homepage by editing text, adding images, links, tables and embedded videos. Navigation buttons allow previewing changes. 3. Adding new Wiki pages and linking between pages. 4. Starting discussion threads for student collaboration and posting replies. The tutorial emphasizes that Wikispaces allow for flexible collaboration and information sharing in an educational setting. Permissions can control who can view and

1. Creating a Classroom Wikispace
This tutorial will guide you through steps to create a classroom
Wikispace. It would be beneficial to go through the entire lesson once
before creating your own Wikispace to get a feel for what Wikispaces are
their benefits to educators.
ET502
Jennifer Bouska
Tiffany Kile
Julie Stout

2. What is a Wikispace?
 Wikispaces are groups of web pages that can
be edited by anyone. As the creator, you can
set your permissions to allow certain people
to view and edit your page.
 “Wikis are simple web pages that
groups, friends, and families can edit
together. Starting your wiki at Wikispaces is
fast, free, and easy.”
– www.wikispaces.com

3. Where can I locate Wikispaces?
 Wikispaces can be located at the internet
address below.
◦ www.wikispaces.com

4. What is a Wiki page?
 A Wiki page is a page within a self created
Wikispace.
What would I use a Wiki for?
 Collaborative writing
 Discussion
 Brainstorming
 Classroom Information/Newsletters
 Networking

5. What does a Wiki look like?
 Here are some educational Wikis you can
explore before you begin.
◦ www.kile4.wikispaces.com
◦ www.jen283.wikispaces.com
◦ www.daviesteach.wikispaces.com
◦ www.cm4eric.wikispaces.com

6. What do I need?
 A computer with internet access
 Basic knowledge of PowerPoint and using
the internet
 45 minutes of dedicated work time to
complete this lesson

7. Tasks Addressed
1. Getting Started
2. Creating a Wikispace
3. Personalizing and Editing
4. Add a Page
5. Start a Discussion
Go On Stop and Try

8. Getting Started
 Open your internet and type the Wikispaces
address in the address bar.
 www.wikispaces.com
 Select and enter your own username and
password.
◦ Example:
 username -ET502
 email – ******@bears.unco.edu
 password - *******
 Then click “Get Started.”

9. Creating a Wiki Page
◦ Click “Create a New Wiki.”
◦ Choose your Wiki Name and enter it into the box to
the right of “Wiki Name.”
 Choose a name between 3 and 32 characters long.
 A wiki name must be at least 3 characters long.
 A wiki name can contain only letters, numbers, and
hyphens, without any spaces, and it cannot start with a hyphen.
 A wiki name cannot be blank.
 Our lesson Wiki name – ET502

10. ◦ Select a “Public”, “Protected”, or a “Private” Wiki type.
 If you want others to be able to edit and view your Wiki without being
members, choose a “Public” Wiki.
 A “Protected” Wiki can be viewed by anyone, but only edited by Wiki
members.
 A “Private” Wiki is not free and can only be viewed and edited by Wiki
members.
◦ Select the “Wiki Type.”
 Wiki Type For teachers there is a “K-12” option and a “Higher
Education” option. For this tutorial, we are selecting “Higher
Education.”
 K-12
 Higher education
 Business
 Personal
 Non-profit
 Government
 Other
 I prefer not to answer
 Click the “Create” button.

11.  Invite members to your Wiki
◦ Go to “Manage Wiki”
 People
 Invite people
 Add in the email addresses of all the people that need to be
a part of this wiki page and send.
 You can find and add new members by going to Manage
wiki, members.
 If you created a “Public” Wiki you do not need to invite
members since the page is meant to be viewed and edited
by outside members.

12.  Eliminating Advertisements
◦ Go to “Manage Wiki”
 Settings
 Click on “Subscriptions”
 Scroll to the bottom
 Select free educator upgrade
 Confirm you are using the Wiki for educational
purposes
 Submit
◦ The advertisements will be removed within a
few days!

13. Editing
 Personalizing your Wiki
◦ Wikispaces will provide you with a message to
assist in this process.
 Editing your page
◦ If you are not at the home page, click ”Home”
◦ Click on the “Edit” button on the upper right
side of your screen to begin editing your Wiki
page

14.  Delete preset text
◦ Clear out the text that comes with your new Wiki.
You do this with the “backspace” or “delete” key on
your computer’s keyboard. This is similar to any text
deletion on the computer.
 Begin adding your own text
 Start by typing your “Welcome Message” to
students, parents, or peers
 When finished, press “save.”

15.  To change font formatting on your
page, highlight the text and click on
the “T-color pallet.”
◦ This function allows you to change “text
color”, “text alignment”, “vertical
position”, “background color”, and
adding “strike through.”

16.  To change the color, click the “Text Color”
box.
 Click on your new color and then “Apply
Styles.”
 Click the “Save” button after making any
changes.

17.  To insert a link to an outside webpage
◦ Click “External Link”
 Type in the words you would like to be hyperlinked into
“Link Text” box
 Type the address in the address box
 If you would like the linked website to appear in a new
window, check the “New Window” box
 Click “Add Link”
 Click “Save”

18.  Insert images
◦ You must first be sure that you have a picture
file saved on your computer.
 You can
 Use an existing picture file or photo
 Save a picture from a website or document to your
computer
 To save, find a picture you would like and right click on it
 Then select “save image as” and choose the location to
store your image
◦ You are now ready to upload your image to
your wiki!

19.  Insert images or file
◦ Click upload files to find a file currently on the
computer
◦ Then click file to upload
 Embed file
 Post it directly to the page
 Link to file
 Create a link to take the worker directly to a site.

20.  Embed Widget – insert outside movie
(example: Teacher Tube or You Tube)
◦ Click on the “widget” button
◦ Choose a Wikispaces widget or a category
provided to you
◦ Click “save”

21.  Inserting and manipulating a table
 Click insert “table”
 Define your table
 Number of columns
 Number of rows
 Insert table
 Click “save”
 To change table size after creating, click on the table and
a small table will appear.
 Click on small table and a menu will allow you to choose
what you want to change.
 Click “save”
 To re-align the table within the Wikipage, click on the
table and a small table will appear.
 Click on the small table and a menu will allow you to
align your table at the right, left or center of the page
 Click “save”

22. ◦ Preview
 Before saving any work, you can preview what changes
you made. This will allow you to decide to keep your
work or discard it.
◦ Cancel
 This button will cancel any changes you have made
prior to saving. It will take you back to the last page
that you saved.
◦ Save
 One of the most important buttons to push. Be sure to
save any work that has been done unless you want to
lose it.

23.  Changing the Color or Theme of your Wiki
◦ Go to “Manage Wiki”
◦ Click on “Look and Feel”
 Click on “Themes and Colors”
 Choose your theme from the samples
 Choose a color scheme
 Click “Preview” to view the layout on the screen
 You can choose:
 “Preview”
 “Preview and Customize”
 Change the colors to your exact specifications.
 “Apply”
 Remember to click “Save” to keep your choice

24. Add a Page
 Click “New Page”
◦ Give your page a name
◦ Click “Create”
◦ Edit your new page the same way you did
your initial page.
◦ Your new page will be listed on a sidebar of
your Wiki page.
 Click on the new page name to view the page.

25. ◦ To insert a link to another page in your Wiki
 Click “Link”
 Insert the name of the page that you want linked to this page.
 Give it a name: Link Text
 Attach it to a current page within the Wiki
 Click “Add Link”
 Click “Save”

26. Start a Discussion
 Click on the discussion tab at the top of your
Wiki page.
◦ Select “New Post”
 Name a subject and type in your discussion topic.
 If you would like email reminders when discussions
happen, click on monitor this topic.
 Click “Post”
◦ Click on discussion subject name to reply to the
post.
◦ Type in your reply and click “Post.”
◦ The moderator for the discussion will receive an
email saying you replied.

27. Do you know how to create a Wiki?

28. Under “Manage Wiki,” which
button do you press to change the
look of your Wikispace?
a) Content Manager
b) Badges
c) Look and Feel
d) Space Usage
Answer: c) Look and Feel

29. Under “Edit,” which button do you
press to change font formatting
such as color and size?
Answer: a) T-color pallet

30. True or false, once I begin to edit, I
cannot go back.
Answer: False, by pressing cancel, the
Wiki will go back to the previously
saved choices.

31. Under “Edit,” which button do you
press to align text?
Answer: d) T-color pallet

32. Which button do you press to add a
page?
a) Templates
b) New Page
c) Tags
d) Exports
Answer: b) New Page

33. Under “Discussion,” you can post
your discussion question by…
a) Clicking on “Search Posts”
b) Entering your question into the blank
box
c) Clicking “+ New Posts”
d) Double clicking the “Discussion” button
again
Answer: c) Clicking “+ New Post”

34. Under “Edit,” which button do you
press to add a picture to your page?
a) Widget
b) Link
c) File
d) Table
Answer: c) File

35. True or False, the discussion button
can be found along the top of the
home page.
Answer: True, the discussion button is
Between “Page” and “History” tabs at the
top of the Wiki.

36. Under “Edit,” which button do you
press to add a video to your page?
a) Video
b) Preview
c) Widget
d) Movie
Answer: c) Widget

37. Under “Manage Wiki,” which
button do you press to change
protections so that only certain
people can view your page?
a) Permissions
b) Content Manager
c) Wiki Info
d) User Creator
Answer: a) Permissions

38. True or false, I can upload large files
to share with others.
Answer: True, the Wiki page is capable
of very large files.

39. True or false, I am the only person
who can edit my pages.
Answer: False, depending on the
permission level that the Wiki is set at,
you can determine who can edit my
pages.

40. Under “Manage Wiki,” which
button do you press to eliminate
the advertisements?
a) Members
b) Notifications
c) Wiki Statistics
d) Subscription
Answer: d) Subscription

41. True or false, Wikis are unsafe
because anyone can edit them at
any time.
Answer: False, a Wiki can be set at
different levels of permissions to allow
for collaboration on many different
levels.

42.  Use these videos to refresh your memory.

44. You are now ready
to utilize your Wikispace!