Using a Wiki in the Classroom

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Using a Wiki in the Classroom

• Christian V. Penny, Ph.D.
• West Chester University

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What is a Wiki?

• Web app that allows users to add content, but
  also allows anyone to edit content
  
• Enables documents to co-authored in a simple
  markup language using a browser
  
• Single page in a wiki is referred to as a "wiki
  page
  
• Entire body of pages, is called "the wiki"in
  effect, a very simple database
  
• Defining characteristic is the ease with which
  pages can be created and updated.

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Wikipedia

• Multilingual project to create a complete,
  accurate and free encyclopedia
  
• Started January 2001
• Currently working on 978,000 articles in the
  English version

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Other Popular Wikis

• Wiktionary - Dictionary and thesaurus
• Wikibooks - Free textbooks and manual
• Wikiquote - Collection of quotations
• Wikinews - Free content news source
• Wikitravel - Worldwide travel guide
• WikiHow - How-To manual

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Are Wikis a Crazy Idea?

• Yes
• and No
• Because they are radically open
• Greatest strength is also the greatest weakness.
  
  

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Education Wikis

• HS Online Collaborative Writing
• Staples High
• Litmuse
• Planetmath

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K-12 Wiki Ideas

• Science fair projects
• Research tool
• Collaboration
• Simple content management tool
• Portfolios
• Online curriculum - WebQuests
• Literature circles
• Online presence for groups, clubs or teams

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Collaborative Textbooks

• California Open Source Textbook Project
• www.opensourcetext.org
• Create online textbooks using wiki software and
  then eventually create printed copies
  
• Founder contends that most information in K-12
  textbooks is in public domain.
  
• Goal to slash Californias 400 million dollar
  textbook budget
  

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Wiki Engines

• MoinMoin - A PythonLanguage wiki engine
• MediaWiki - Used by the WikiPedia project
• PhpWiki - A very popular PhpLanguage Wiki
• UseModWiki -- A PerlLanguage wiki
• TwikiClone - A powerful, skinnable, extensive
  PerlLanguage wiki
  
• TikiWiki - Content management system with a
  powerful Wiki
  
• PmWiki -- A popular PhpLanguage Wiki, easy
  installation, simple design, nice feature list.

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West Chester University Example

• Choose an ed tech topic -
• What is it?
• How to use it?
• Why use it? (educational justification)
• How are teachers are using it? (examples)

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Wiki Services

• www.jotspot.com
• Secure wiki hosting in 30 seconds
• www.seedwiki.com
• Do the simplest thing possible

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cpenny_at_wcupa.eduhttp//del.icio.us/cpennywcupa/
wiki

• Christian V. Penny, Ph.D.
• West Chester University