A wiki is a website that allows users to easily edit and add content to pages. Wikis encourage collaboration by allowing multiple people to contribute to the same pages. They are useful for group projects where students can divide tasks and upload work. Wikis also make good portfolio sites where students can publish and comment on each other's finished work. Creating a wiki involves setting up an account on a wiki hosting site, then editing and saving pages for others to access.

1. What is a wiki?
Wikiwiki means quick in
Hawaiian. A wiki is a
website in which
users can easily edit
any page. The
website grows
organically by linking
existing pages
together or by creating
links to new pages.

2. Wait…is this like Wikipedia?
 Yes, wikipedia is a
wiki page. Basically,
anyone with access
to the wiki page can
add, edit and delete
content.

3. But…that means anyone can type
anything on the page!
 Why in the world
would I want to use
something like that?
 A wiki is a powerful
tool that when
utilized correctly can
be used for
collaboration
projects.

4. Hmm…could you show me an
example of this?
 Sure. Click on the  http://www.commonc
video to see how raft.com/video-wikis-
wikis can be a plain-english
useful, collaboration
tool.

5. Okay…tell me more about wikis?
How do they work?
 Well, basically you set up a wiki page and assign
members to join the group.
 “Teachers can assign one to an entire classroom or to
small groups. Many wiki creation programs and websites
have educational or classroom features that allow
teachers to assign user names and passwords to their
students without their students having to create
accounts, give email addresses, or provide other
personal information.”
- from:
http://curriculalessons.suite101.com/article.cfm/using_wikis
_in_the_classroom

6. How do I create a wiki?
 There are various
websites and
software programs
that allow for the
creation of wikis.
 Many website
creation software
such as Sharepoint,
include a wiki
creation feature.

7. Okay, but I am not a techie. Is
there a simple way to create a
wiki?
 Yes! If you go to the
following website:
http://www.wikispaces.com/ ,
you can set up an account
and then a wiki page
template will be created.
Then you can just start
creating your page.

8. All about Wikispaces.com
 This site is great
because if you are a
K-12 educator, you
can set up a wiki
account for free with
no limitations!
 Click on the link to
learn more.
 http://www.wikispace
s.com/site/for/teache
rs

9. Okay, let’s say I decide to use
wikispaces to create a wiki. What
do I do first?
 First, you must
create an account.
When you do this
you will be asked to
come up with a
username,
password, and you
will have to decide
what settings you
want for your wiki.

10. Settings? What does that mean?
 Basically, the settings detail how you want the wiki
to be used:
 Will it be a private wiki?(members only)
 Will it be open to the public(meaning anyone can
read it), if it is open to the public can anyone add,
edit content to the page, etc?

11. Ok, so I created a wiki account
and picked my settings. Now
what?
 Every wiki website has
two important buttons:
the edit button and
save button. First, you
click on the edit button.
This will turn the wiki
page into a document
where you can type,
edit, and add pictures
and files to your page.

12. How do I add text, pictures or
files?
 When you click on the edit button, you get an
interface that is similar to a word processing
document. While all wiki creation websites and
software programs are different, their interfaces are
fairly simple.
 This is one picture of one wiki
interface. You can see it is just a
blank page with a simple tool bar.

13. Okay…I’ve added content to my
wiki page. Now what?
 Well, now all you do
is click on save.
Your work is saved
and ready for the
next person to add
content.

14. How do I get my students to
access my wiki so they can add
content?
 Simply send them the
url(web address) of the
wiki in an e-mail.
 Then, depending on
what settings you
picked, they can start
editing content.
 If you set up the wiki as
private(members only),
you must provide the
students with the login
information they will
need to access the
page.

15. What are some examples of wikis that
other teachers have created?
 When you create a wiki, you must remember that
the essential purpose of such a page is to support
collaboration.
 It is not meant to be a website that is changed
occasionally. It should be a website that is
accessed frequently and updated frequently.

16. Examples:
 Group projects: Group projects can be a hassle
when it comes to dividing up the work load and
checking up on each other’s progress.
 If the group sets up a wiki, the members can list all
the requirements of the project and then everyone
who accesses the wiki can have input as to what
they are assigned.
 Example: Here’s what the assignment requires.
 Person #1: Would it be okay, if I do the rubric and
opening explanation?

17. Group projects continued…
 Once the assignments are divided up, the group
members will work on their assigned parts.
 Once they are done their part, they will then
upload their part to the wiki so that everyone can
see the content, and provide feedback.
 This assures that everyone has the same
information and that the final project is something
that the whole group has agreed to.

18. Brainstorming
 For projects like  Example:
 “A wiki could be set up for middle or high
science fair school students to brainstorm ideas for and
projects, a wiki plan science fair projects. Initially it would
mostly be brainstorming, posting ideas and
page can be used information to back them up. As they begin to
to help streamline flesh out the ideas that they are interested in,
small groups might form to work on individual
the brainstorming projects, but could still contribute ideas to
process. other projects. The teacher can act as a
facilitator by offering suggestions and asking
probing questions to get students to consider
particular aspects in the planning of their
projects. The wiki could also be used to
record and organize data, and plan eventual
papers/presentations. “
 -from
http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Wiki_in_a_K-
12_classroom

19. Portfolio and sharing of finished
project
 A wiki page can be set
up for individual
projects, as well.
 Let’s say each student
has the same project.
Instead of having
each student submit
their project
individually(saving on
a network drive, or
sending it in an e-
mail), the students
can upload their work
to a wiki page.

20. Portfolio and sharing of finished
projects continued…
 So, by everyone
posting their work on
the same site,
everyone’s work can
be shared and is
easily accessible.
 Students can then
see what other
people have done
and provide
feedback on their
work.

21. Where can I find information to
help me create a wiki?
 Excellent question!
Here are some great
resources you can
use to learn more
about wiki and
education:
 http://www.teachersfir
st.com/content/wiki/
 http://educationalwikis
.wikispaces.com/Articl
es+and+Resources