This document discusses using wikis for world language instruction. It provides an overview of a workshop on wikis and world languages, including introductions, an overview of wikis and their advantages for language learning, and a demonstration of setting up a wiki using PBWorks. Participants learn the basics of wikis and are shown how to set up pages, add content, upload files, invite users, and control access on their wiki. The goal is to help teachers learn how to effectively incorporate wikis into their language teaching.

1. Wikis and World Languages
Donna Shelton, PhD
Northeastern State University
Wiki logos are from http://pbworks.com/ and http://www.wikispaces.com/.

2. Welcome to OFLTA’s Summer
Technology Workshop
Wikis and World Languages

3. Introductions
Donna Shelton, Associate Professor of Spanish at
NSU and Web 2.0 geek
Please introduce yourselves to those around you
and discuss your goals for this workshop. How do
you plan to use your wiki in your teaching?
Be ready to introduce another participant to the rest
of the group

4. Workshop overview
We’re going to use PBWorks as our wiki hosting
site for this demonstration
You are also welcome to use Wikispaces
You should consider privacy issues and your district’s or
institution’s policies in setting up your wiki
As a part of learning what can be incorporated into
a wiki, we’ll also learn about other Web 2.0 tools
We’ll start with the basics, but then we can
individualize according to your needs

5. What’s a wiki?
A website that multiple people can create and edit
They can be private or public
They can be simple or quite complex
Text only
One page or multiple pages
Images, videos, maps, and more and more
Let’s watch a short video that explains it

6. Wikis and world languages
Wikis have a number of advantages for language
instruction
Teachers can use them to post resources and
assignments
Students can use them on collaborative projects
Wikis are the perfect repository for multi-media
learning objects

7. What do you want to do?
Before we set up our wikis, let’s talk about what you
want to do
Who’s going to use your wiki?
Will your wiki be text only?
Do you want a wiki with just one page or multiple
pages?
What bells and whistles do you want?
Your preferences will help me tailor the workshop to
your needs

8. Let’s get started. Go to
www.pbworks.com and click on
the For Education link at the top.

9. There’s one thing to know before
you set up your account:
You’ll need to verify your email
address. If you open your email
now, it will save time. If your school
email won’t work, set up a free
Gmail account first.

10. There’s a free,
basic account,
and then there
are premium
accounts. They
aren’t free.

11. This is the free, basic account.
Check out the features.

12. Here’s a comparison with the
premium accounts.

13. Clicking Select under the Basic Edition
takes you to the Sign Up page.
Choose carefully and
write down your URL.

14. If you prefer Wikispaces, go to
www.wikispaces.com and set up
an educational account.

15. All wiki hosting services offer training
resources and examples of educational
uses of wikis. Take a look.

16. This Commoncraft video is in our wiki.

17. Once you’ve set up your wiki, you will see
this page. It needs editing! Click EDIT.

18. Take a look at each of the circled areas
on the Edit page. Click on each to see
what you can do.

19. Let’s take a closer look.

20. This is the most important thing you
need to know. After you add or edit
the content of a page, you must SAVE.

21. The fun stuff is under Insert on the toolbar.

22. Other fun stuff is under More Plugins in the
dropdown menu.

23. Insert Link causes this box to open. You
can link to a website, a page in your
wiki, or a file stored in your wiki.

24. If you want to link to a page or file in your
wiki, this box will allow you to select one.

25. Once you’ve set up
your wiki, how do
you get back into it
later on?

26. If you go to www.pbworks.com and
then log in, this screen will appear.

27. This page will then open. It lists all your wikis.
Select the one you want to work on.

28. If you go
directly to
the URL of
your wiki, this
Log In page
will appear.

29. Now let’s explore
other things we
need to know to set
up a functional wiki.

30. Take a look
at the
functions
available
on the right
side of the
page.

31. Under Account, you can change your
email address and password.

32. Name and create a new page.

33. Upload files: Photos, Word docs, etc.

34. Invite people to your wikis.

35. To share a page if you’ve made
changes, use this message box.

36. To control access to your pages, you
have to have a premium account.

37. A teacher’s best friend: The history page.

38. Go to the Settings tab. You can change the colors
of your wiki and handle user access from there.

39. In the Settings tab, select your
Workspace Security settings.

40. Add more users here, also.

41. This window allows you to add users.

42. Go to the
Pages & Files
tab. You can
delete or
rename
pages in your
wiki here.

43. Once
you’ve
created all
the pages
for your wiki,
you can
create links
to them.

44. PBWorks has provided some preformatted
pages targeted at educators.

45. Let’s take some time to
set up the pages of our
wiki and enter some
text. Later we’ll look at
the fancy things.

46. Thank you!
Donna Shelton
Northeastern State University
sheltods@nsuok.edu