This document summarizes a presentation from WikiSym 2008 on using wikis for kids. It discusses that wikis can be engaging for young kids aged 4-8 when used as a context for playful interaction with parents. For older kids aged 8-12, wikis provide an opportunity for collaborative game creation and developing skills in group work and creativity. Specific examples are provided of games that can be played on wikis, such as collaborative story writing, to make wikis a fun experience for kids.

1. WikiSym 2008
Wiki For Kids
What’s That? Is That Good?
This is a result from OpenSpace
“Wiki for kids: how good they can be?”

2. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
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3. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Let’s define “kids”
Two groups by age:
• 4-8 years old
• and 8-12 years old.
Main differences are in:
• abilities to write and to read
• needs in social attention
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4. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
For young ones
“Wiki” and “computer” itself are
mostly indistinguishable.
Wiki is a toy.
Tool for structuring individual
behavour of a child.
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5. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Carried Away
Such a pleasant dream for
parents!
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6. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
While He Plays,
you can take some rest and do
some “adult” things.
Such as drinking beer, yep.
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7. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
How to teach
you child to
play with wiki?
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8. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Childrens don’t
know how to
play games.
Children, growned by animals,
don’t know how to play.
Playing games is a social skill.
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9. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Play together!
Use wiki as a context for
communication with your child.
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10. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Visuals Instead Of Text
You are not expecting your kid to read all
this stuff?
Erm, don’t expect him to write it, too.
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11. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
So, what is “wiki” here?
Wiki — is a place
where
you and your child
can
create
together
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12. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Drawing Tools
Draw together with your child: start from questions
like “what color should we use for puppy?”
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13. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Mijn Naam Is Haas
• “My name is Haas”
www.mijnnaamishaas.nl
• interactive narrative
game, where kids helps
hare on its journey
• can be used for learning
vocabulary and usage of
words
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14. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Playing Together
is better alongside of a single computer
at this age.
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15. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Universal
Edit
Button
Use metaphors from real world,
not from word processor!
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16. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
For 8+ years
• There is a plenty
of games inside
and outside the
computer.
• Wiki is just
another one game.
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17. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Games With Wiki
• Can help to develop creativity
• Allow learning of working in group, how to:
• use and impove others’ products
• consider and use others’ opinions
• build a result-oriented communication
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18. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
Some Games You Can Play
• collaborative writing of a story around
some key points of a plot
• photo quests and hyper cartoons
• fantasy dictionary creation
• wiki games as in: tinyurl.com/wiki-gaming
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19. WikiSym 2008: Wiki For Kids
So
• 3-8 yo — Wiki is a context for playful
interaction with parents and other kids
• 8+ yo — Wiki becomes a sandbox for
co-creation games
• Creativity and groupwork skills are key
learning points in wiki-related activity
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20. WikiSym 2008: вики для детей
Authors and contributors
• Nikolay Yaremko
makiwara@humanemagica.com
• Konstantin Kolomeetz
kolomeetz@yandex-team.ru
and other WikiSym participants
More WikiSym 2008 stories?
http://wikisym2008.humanemagica.com
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