This document provides an overview of wikis and how they can be used in educational settings. It begins with defining wikis as websites that allow collaborative editing by multiple users with no specialized technical skills. Several benefits of wikis for differentiating instruction are outlined, such as their ease of use, accessibility, and ability to engage diverse learning styles. Examples are given of how wikis can be incorporated into classrooms for projects, group work, portfolios, and peer review. Suggestions are also made for teacher collaboration through wikis. The document concludes by listing examples of wikis in different subject areas and providing references for further information.

1. WIKIS
Laurie Roberts
11/11/10
Georgia Southern University

2. BIO
• My name is Laurie
Roberts. I am from
Douglas but married and
moved to the big town of
Naylor, GA. My husband
owns his own business
and has to travel a lot.
We have a daughter,
Addy, who just turned 1.
I am currently a stay at
home mom, which is the
best job ever. I am
completing my master’s
degree in Instructional
Technology and this is
part of my requirements.

3. Have you ever heard of a wiki or
ever created one?
• Hold up your if “YES”.
• Hold up your if “NO”.

4. What is a Wiki?
• The word “wiki” came from the Hawaiian language
which means “quick” or “fast”.
• A wiki allows a group of people to collaboratively
develop a Web site with no knowledge of HTML or
other markup languages.
• Anyone can add to or edit pages in a wiki
• Anyone can create new wiki pages simply by creating
a new link with the name of the page.
• It is an ongoing process of creation and collaboration
that constantly changes.

5. Why should we use a wiki and how can they
benefit our students by allowing us to
differentiate instruction?
• Easy to use- Anybody can use them!!
• Online and can be accessed from any computer
• Anyone authorized can make changes
• Free
• Private and safe for schools to use
• Easily edited
• Offer greater accountability
• Engaging and ensures that each learning style is reached.
• Easy way to get students excited about peer review
• Showcase students work
• Easy way to involve parents in the learning process
• Incorporate learning focus strategies- Think-Pair-Share
• Get students to work with other students
• Students are learning from their peers
• Helps students become organized.

6. How can a wiki be used in the
classroom?
• Creating projects (can track participation)
• Group Projects without having to set aside time to meet.
• Portfolios to showcase students work
• Peer Review/ editing
• Collaborative writing
• Book studies/ author studies/ literature circles
• Wiki books
• Storing websites for projects or class topics
• Summarizing chapters or books
• Reflections on assignments or articles
• Study guides
• Vocabulary List
• Homework
• Notes
• Classroom Webpage
• Hall of Fame
• Mock Debate
• Use it to solve problems

7. How can a wiki be used by
teachers for collaboration?
• Collaboration
• Lesson Plans
• Useful/ Helpful websites
• Meetings (minutes)
• Keep notes on students
• Provide teacher commentary to students
• Study Guides
• Online courses

8. Think of one way you could
incorporate a wiki into your
classroom……

9. Wikis in Plain English

10. Here are some examples
of how wikis can be used
in different subjects!!!

11. English
• This wiki was created using MediaWiki. It was a group
of students that worked in small groups and completed
several tasks in order to teach two chapters of the book
Animal Farm to their peers.
(http://wiki.micds.org/wiki/Animal_Farm)
• This wiki was also created using MediaWiki. This was
also a small group of students that worked together to
write a single scene play that included cast descriptions,
stage directions, and dialog.
(http://tinyurl.com/wikiplay)
• This one used PBworks. This one was created by 9th
grade students working in groups. After reading Lord of
the Flies, they were to pretend they were stranded on an
island and survival was the goal.
( http://lordofsurvival.pbworks.com/ )

12. Writing
• This wiki uses pbworks and uses the wiki
as a journal for each student.
(http://mrpollitt.pbworks.com/ )
• This wiki uses wikispaces. This wiki is run
by students and they have lots on this wiki
all about writing. They even have visitors
from all over the world!
(http://super12scribes.wikispaces.com/ )

13. Science
• This wiki used MediaWiki. This wiki was
one where students worked alone or in
groups and they were to choose one of
three questions to research and use the
wiki to organize their findings. Then they
had to create an image-based
presentation.
(http://
wiki.micds.org/wiki/The_Evolution_Project
)

14. Social Studies
• This wiki used wikispaces. The students
had to research a question related to Han
China and Imperial Rome. They had to
share their findings on the wiki and then
present orally.
(http://romeandchina.wikispaces.com/ )

15. Math
• This wiki used pbworks. It was a Calculus
wiki in which students collaboratively
wrote a solution manual on how to solve
problems.
(http://apcalc2008.pbworks.com/ )

16. Places where you can create your
own wiki for free.
• PBWORKS
• WIKISPACES
• WETPAINT
• MEDIAWIKI

17. Let’s talk about what we
have learned about wikis
and make one of our
own!!

18. References
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY
• www.commoncraft.com
• http://www.slideshare.net/pwoessner/wikis-in-the-k12-classroom-
4502085
• http://www.smartteaching.org/blog/2008/08/50-ways-to-use-wikis-
for-a-more-collaborative-and-interactive-classroom/
• http://www.slideshare.net/coolcatteacher/wikis-in-the-classroom
• http://rachelboyd.wikispaces.com/