Chapter+1 +Using+Wikispaces+in+the+classroom

Using Wikispaces in the Classroom  Objectives and Goals
 * 1) From consulting this wiki, the user will be able to:
 * 2) Learn what a wikispace is
 * 3) Learn what a wikispace can offer
 * 4) How a wikispace can be helpful in a classroom
 * 5) Create their own wikispace
 * 6) Edit and save their own wikispace

What is a Wiki and Why Do I Need One?
First thing you should know is wiki is a Hawaiian word meaning fast. It came to because people can make their own web site creation fast. A wiki allows anyone with web access to see your wiki and only those who request permission to join your wiki the ability to edit, add and delete material from your wiki. Wikipedia is the best known form of a wiki on the internet today. It is often claimed to be a poor resource for information because anyone can edit information. Rest assured that if you create a wikispace, you will be the only one that can edit, add or delete material UNLESS you give someone permission electronically to do so.


 This video may help explain... media type="youtube" key="-dnL00TdmLY" height="291" width="357"

Why should you use a wiki?

 * **For Discussion Boards--**Wikis can be used to host online discussion topics that reach beyond classroom walls...even across curriculums and countries.


 * **For Collaborative or Individual Projects--**students can use wikis to create and manage group presentations and projects. No longer will you hear "so and so isn't here today and he has all our stuff." In fact "so and so" can now be held accountable for contributing from HOME if absent during a group work day! This type of online collaboration can even cut down on the amount of class time spent working on group projects. Homework can also become less isolated and more collaborative as students can connect with their teacher and peers anytime, anwhere!


 * **For Electronic Portfolios--**because many types of files can be uploaded to a wiki, students can create individual wikipages to host their work. Students can easily upload photostories, movies, podcasts, powerpoints, word documents, google earth projects and other files.
 * **For Peer to Peer Sharing--**because postings can be viewed by other wiki members, students can learn from each other and review and respond to each others work.


 * Contributors: Nick Paolini & Andrew Halter--**Pittsburgh Area, Hampton High School CFF Coach/English and Technology Teacher

Editing your own Wikispace
Editing your own wikispace is as easy as clicking the "Edit this page" button at the top. Once you click that button, you will then see an "Editor" bar across the top of your screen, dont worry, as you scroll down or add more and more material, the bar will come down with you. Once you are editing, you have multiple options to choose from. From left to right they are: bold text, italic text, underline text, text editor (this is where you can do the most with you're text), headings, numbering, adding bullets, horizontal rule insert, linking to another wiki or external link, un-linking, importing and image or file, embedding a widget, inserting a table, inserting special characters, and finally special codes. The next 3 buttons across the top are for advanced uses and include a text editor, preview, save and cancel button. It's imperative that you save your work each and every time you make a change to your wiki. If you do not, your work will be lost.

Using a wiki in a classroom
A wiki can be used in a classroom in many different ways. The beauty of a wiki is that it permits a plethora of different tools to be added. The creator can put anything from a podcast to an educational video. From my experience working with teachers, the wiki is used for a spot to electronically store and archive their work for students to view and use while in and out of school. A math teacher can record their day's lesson in a Notebook file, export it as a PDF and then post it to their wiki. This permits the students to review the lesson at home and any time they wish for a brush up on material.