Wiki

**Wikis:** (Definition) ( based on one in wikpedia, an online, updatable wiki that covers topics similar to an encyclopedia) A wiki is a website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using simplified computer editing language. Wikis are typically powered by software and are often used to create collaborative wiki websites, to power community websites, for personal or group notetaking, in corporate or classroom collaborations, and as a knowledge management system. Wikis gather data, package it to its purpose, offer a digitally friendly workspace to the user and it editable in real time. Editorial rights are managed and can expand to everyone, an identifiable group or be limited to one individual depending on its purpose. The developer of the first wiki software described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work."

**Common Educational Wiki sites** Wikispaces: (marciaoat was created on this site) www.wikispaces.com PBWorks: [] **How Wiki's Work**: Commoncraft does a great video series on web 2.0. Please check out their wiki video []



Wiki's work well as digital project storage that can be updated and shared in realtime. Here is an educator project that explores the concepts of a Digital Bloom's taxonomy integration with technology. Notice the many resources that are just a click away. [|http://edorigami.wikspaces.com]

**Here are some resources as you consider wiki type projects with your students:** Nice examples using wikis in school: http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis A student project: <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">http://delmarhistory8.wikispaces.com/Unit+1+-+Our+Colonial+Heritage

Article discussing the challenges of using WIki in school <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">﻿ <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Getting Started:** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wikispaces offers a site tour and tutorials on how to get started. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**A Couple Quick TIps for Wikispaces:** <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wiki's have 2 modes, use and edit. before you can add info to pages you will need to get to the edit mode. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When editing: <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">open edit mode, add your text content and web addresses directly. This type of editing is just like editing in a word document. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pictures and files will need to be uploaded before you can add them to your page, use the file tab on the edit toolbar to do this. up load first, insert next. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Links can be used to navigate between pages in your wiki without having to use the side toolbar <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Widgets are cool editions to your page. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**What's a widget:** In computers, a widget is an element of a graphical user interface that displays information or provides a specific way for a user to interact with the operating system or application. Widgets include icons, pull-down menus, polls, web video, buttons, selection boxes, progress indicators, on-off checkmarks, scroll bars, windows, resizable window edges, toggle buttons, forms, and many other apps for displaying information and for inviting, accepting, and responding to user actions. ([|http://whatis.techtarget.com]) <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When you select widget, a box will appear asking you what kind of widget you wish to add. In most cases pick the widget type and move on. But with some widgets you will need to embed some code. The wiki software will bring up a box to paste the embed code in. Go to the site and look for the "embed" copy the code into your wiki box and the widget will be there when you save. <span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">