Wiki_Teaching

=Teaching With a Wiki=

**What is a wiki?**
Wikis are primarily designed to facilitate fast, efficient web-based collaborative writing. Wikis should be easy. If they aren't- find another one. Wikis are useful in small groups. Large groups are harder.

**What isn't a wiki?**
A wiki is a not a tool designed to allow individual assessment. It possibly could be, but there are probably better tools for the job.

**Why?**

 * **Collaboration**
 * Wikis allow fast collaboration. The extend the classroom instruction time. This collaboration can occur over time. It allows shy kids to contribute. It allows ELL kids to contribute. Students continue to generate ideas outside of the class.
 * **Scaffolding**
 * Wikis allow kids to scaffold easily. They see what other students are writing and thinking. They can link ideas, formulate new ones and stretch their comprehension.
 * **Archiving**
 * When you're done, lock the wiki. No one can edit it any more but the ideas and information are still there.
 * **Easy**
 * Wikis are designed to be edited with the least amount of technical knowledge. Content takes precedence over process.

Can't the kids delete everything?
Yes and no. You can change the editing permissions for a wiki. Right now this wiki can be edited by anyone, without them having to login. However only someone who has permission can revert to a previous version. Any edit can be undone, and only by the teacher. You can also get a wiki that requires a student login (without needing email addresses) so that every edit has a name behind it.

How can I keep up with all the edits?
Most wikis produce RSS feeds. Anytime a student edits a page, you'll get an RSS feed. Additionally, some wikis send you an email when someone changes something. This wiki has that feature.

This wiki will also email the teacher anytime anyone edits it. In that email it will show you exactly what has been changed. Here is a snippet from an email notification that was sent as this wiki was built. The red text is what was deleted and the green text is what was added.

//**Wiki Change**//

**What are some example uses?**

 * 1) Collaborative research- Have small groups research one aspect of a topic.
 * 2) World War II
 * 3) Have each group research the role of women in one country.
 * 4) Country comparison
 * 5) Have small groups research an aspect of a country.
 * 6) Collaborative writing exercise
 * 7) Creative writing
 * 8) Have individual students collaborative on a writing exercise, each writing one part of a story.
 * 9) Plan a play
 * 10) Have student outline a play using a wiki. Assign different parts/structure of a play to different students
 * 11) Create a resource
 * 12) Create a user manual for a procedure
 * 13) Have students outline and write an instruction manual for a Science class
 * 14) Have students create a 'textbook' for younger students.
 * 15) Have students create a school procedures manual.
 * 16) Create a 'class rules' wiki.
 * 17) Have students create a unit study guide.
 * 18) Have them create a test/quiz.
 * 19) Brainstorm topics/questions
 * 20) Create a class newsletter.