This document provides an overview of wikis and their use in education. It discusses what wikis are, how they originated and how popular they have become. It also outlines how wikis can be used for collaboration and information sharing in the classroom by both teachers and students. Specific examples are provided of wikis created by the organization for teacher sharing and student projects. Steps for setting up a basic wiki are also outlined.

1. Jade Ballek – October 2012

2.  Provide a brief background to wikis
 Explore the Sun West wikis available
 Look at how wikis can be used in the
classroom
 Getting started with creating your own wiki

3.  Think/Pair/Share
 The word “wiki” comes from the Hawaiian
word meaning “quick”.
 The first wiki was developed in 1994 by Ward
Cunningham.
 The most popular wiki is Wikipedia which is a
free content encyclopedia.
 How does Wikipedia work?
 Now, there are tens of thousands of wiki
websites!
 Image from Wikipedia

4.  Easy way to set up a web page
 Allows many people to add content to a web
page - collaboration
 Can be used to share information with a wide
audience quickly
 Members can have online discussions on a
wiki page
 Others can comment
on a wiki page
 Image from Wikispaces

5.  Sun West Learning Coaches and Consultants
and teachers have developed a number of
wikis.
 These wikis were created to provide an
opportunity for collaborative sharing among
teachers.

6.  Two ways to use wikis in the classroom
 1. Provide students with links to wikis to
gather information on a topic
 2. Create a class wiki to share information

7. Grade 9 Science Fair Wikispace
(Outlook High School

8. Image from
SGI site

9.  Web Quest
 Presentations
◦ Lead Teacher
◦ Learning Consultant
◦ Supervisor of Technology

11.  It is a good idea to create a list of “rules” for
acceptable use when adding content to a
wikispace.
 Setting the expectations in advance, and
developing consequences can help prevent
issues from developing.

12.  Settings allow teachers to control who sees
the wiki and who can edit content on the wiki:
◦ Private
◦ Group members only
◦ Open/public

13.  Settings allow teachers to change the
appearance of their wiki
 Educational wikis are free, but there are some
restrictions.

15.  Create a wikispace account
 3 Basic Skills
◦ Create a page
◦ Invite members (verified through email)
◦ Add content
 Upload files (handouts)
 Adding external links
 Insert pictures

16.  One mic at a time
 “Raise hand” feature on Bridgit

17.  http://wikiswork.wikispaces.com/Examples+
of+Elementary+Classroom+Wikis
 http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Exa
mples+of+educational+wikis
 http://grade9-sciencefair.wikispaces.com/