Wikis

What are wikis?
A wiki is a website which can be edited by authorised visitors while remaining continuously public: a page-based, content-organised, crowd-corrected, text tool.

Wikispaces
Wikispaces wikis provide:
 * A wiki (editable web space) where individual participants publish hypertext and media.
 * Email (person-to-person message) system for participants.
 * A listserv (person-to-group email messages) system for allowing the teacher to notify participants.
 * Forums (threaded messages visible to all) for discussions and collaboration.
 * Tracking of participation in activities.

__Wiki pedagogy__

 * Wikis orientate students as online content producers rather than online content consumers.
 * Wikis can provide schools with "spaces for the social construction of knowledge" (Klobas 2006, p.13).
 * Wiki contribution is increasingly an expected skill for white-collar workers (Goodnoe 2006).
 * The past appearance of any page, specific changes and the discussion behind them, and the capacity to undo are always available.
 * Wikis can be used in all subject areas.

__**Risks Involved**__

 * Public can access wiki's.
 * Posting personally identifying material.
 * Legal issues e.g. cyber bullying, posting offensive material.
 * Copyright issues e.g. plagiarising

__Create your own wiki__

 * Create a wiki -** Sign up via wikispaces.com - Make a `Protected' (edited by members only) wiki

__**Teacher wikis**__
[|Holes] [|Science]

__**Students wikis**__
[|Year 9 Astronomy] [|Year 10 Open Investigation]

__Issues__

 * Poor spelling and grammar ** - Due to non -English speaking backgrounds and expectations arising from experience with Microsoft Word, which gives immediate indication of spelling and grammar problems. e.g. [|**Bluestorm**]

**Students forgetting log in details** - Offer to take down their username and password.


 * Inappropriate Content ** - examples -
 * students using their names as their space name e.g. [|Student A]
 * students putting pictures of dope on their page.
 * cutting and pasting large chunks of text from somewhere e.g.[|Student B]
 * offensive space names e.g. www.lickme.wikispaces.com

These example could have been avoided by spending more time on these issues prior to students setting up their wikis. These issues can be quickly resolved via feedback - sending the student a message or telling them in class.


 * Confidence **- Many students were unsure of what they were doing when they were setting up their wikis and were reluctant to try them. After 3 double lessons students wikis have started taking a life of their own, and they work on them at home.

__**Benefits**__
Students can express themselves in new ways. e.g videoing an experiment and uploading it onto their wiki - Group 1 Teacher can access and assess student work via the net. The opportunity is there for parents to become involved. Students can work [|individually] or in [|groups] on a project. You can monitor student engagement via the [|recent changes] link.