Wikis in Education

Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Create Classroom Websites

Session 5

What is a Wiki?

• Wiki – Hawaiian word that means “quick”• Term first used by Ward Cunningham between

1994 and 1995• WikiWikiWeb – tool for collaboration on

documents by clicking an “edit” button and change the content

• Websites that can be quickly updated

What is a Wiki? Cont.

• Wikis follow a document-based model– Each page is part of a complete site

• Content can be added, edited, or changed at any time

• WYSIWYG – What you see is what you get• Wikis use Wiki-text

– Can be helpful if you know some HTML code, but not necessary

Anatomy of a Wiki

• Pages • Discussion – Allows users to comment on pages

created• History – Full history of all changes to the wiki

• Notify Me – Allows you to follow changes made to the wiki, think RSS

• Navigation – Sidebar that lists pages• Recent Changes – Most up-to-date and recent

changes

Anatomy of a Wiki, Cont.

• Files – Can upload documents, images, videos, etc. and place within the wiki

• Widgets• Badges

Wikis in Education

• Curriculum• Lesson plans• Sign-up sheets• Daily announcements• Daily attendance

• Virtual bulletin boards

• Meeting agendas, Minutes• Staff development documentation• Staff handbooks, Policy Manuals• Class notes, Handouts