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Wikispaces for Teachers

A Guide to Using Them in Your Classroomhttp://ocdsblearn2wiki.wikispaces.com

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Today’s Agenda

● Overview of wikis● Examples of use in OCDSB● Account information and accessibility● How to…● Create your own

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What is a Wiki?

● A webpage with an Edit button● Easy to use● Perfect for collaborative learning● There are different types of Wiki ● We have chosen Wikispaces for compatibility with IE6

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Wiki information

● An online writing space for you and others you decide to invite

to your pages

● No experience necessary. Does not require knowledge of html

● You are up and running in minutes

● A multimedia storage space for videos, audio, pdf, docs, etc.

● Multitude of uses to meet your needs

● Easy to make and add pages

● An alternative to Desire2Learn LMS

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Why Bring It To The Classroom?

● Posting homework

● Creating a forum for discussion with students

● Use as a writing tool for students

● Promotes communication between students, teachers, and parents

● Collaborative environment for student group projects

● Display student work exemplars

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Examples of wikis:Chris Kesner, Earl of March SS

Student projects on banned booksGrade 9 BTT as an LMS

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Permission levels @wikispaces

● Wikispaces has different permissions settings for your space

● Public: Anyone can view or edit your Wikispace

● Protected: Anyone can view your space but only members can edit

● Private: Only members can view or edit your space

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Getting a Teacher Account

● Called the PlusPlan for K to12● Go to http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers to apply● Can take a few days to get a response

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Creating Student Accounts

● For younger children, submit list of students, plus passwords to:● http://www.wikispaces.com/help+teachers#accounts● For older students, let them sign up for themselves

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Editing Your Wiki

● Click the Edit This Page button at the top of your wiki

● Write the text you would like on your page

● You can format it with bold, underline, italics, headings, and more

● Once you are done editing, click Save

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Adding Links on Your Wiki

● Click Edit This Page

● Highlight the text you’d like to link & click on the earth icon in the toolbar

● Another window appears allowing you to create a link to another page in

your space or another website (external)

● Click Ok

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Adding Images to Your Wiki

● Click Edit This Page

● Click the icon that looks like a tree

● Browse your computer for the image you would like and click Open

● Upload the chosen picture or file

● Place your cursor where you would like the image on the page

● Double click the image or file to place it on the page

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Adding Media to Your Wiki

● Click Edit This Page

● Go to the icon of the TV in the toolbar

● Choose the type of object (widget) that you’d like to embed

● Follow the instructions for embedding each object

● Click Save

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Additional Resources for Teachers

● Check out our K-12 Educational Community at:● http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com

● Wikispaces information for teachers:● http://www.wikispaces.com/help+teacher

● Handout: Getting Start With Your Wikispace

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Accessing OCDSB Wiki

● From Teacher Resources, click on OCDSB Wiki:

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Time for an Activity

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Create an account and a free K-12 space:

Go to: http://www.wikispaces.com/t/x/teachers/th4

● Put in your username, password, e-mail address and space name.

● Certify that your space will be used exclusively for K-12 education and click “Join.”

● You will be brought to your new space.

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Activity

● Create a Wiki account● Build a page, edit your wiki’s text, add links, and add

an image or a video clip.● View other workshop participants’ page● Use discussion tab to add a comment