Designing+a+Web+Site+Using+Wikispaces

toc **DSC Designing a Classroom/Library Website Using a Wiki** Have you joined the wiki bandwagon yet? Would you like to have a class website or library website? Wikis are an EASY alternative to learning difficult web-editing software. Come and learn all about wikis in this hands-on workshop that will allow you time to create your own wiki for your classroom or library. See examples of the use of wikis and get some great ideas for using wikis across the curriculum. Explore wikis used in the English, science, social studies, and math classrooms. Whatever content area you teach, you can leave with a wiki created to help facilitate the instruction in your classroom this fall. (ADE Criteria: Content, Instructional strategies, Educational technology).

1. Participants will develop knowledge of what wikis are and how they can be used in education. 2. Participants will observe exemplary educational wikis and classroom wikis in content areas. 3. Participants will determine content needed in their own classroom wiki. 4. Participants will discuss precautions that need to be in place with classroom wikis. 5. Participants will develop their own wikis for their classrooms using wikispaces.
 * Objectives:**

What is a wiki?
Wikis provide a quick and easy method for creating web content without difficult and expensive software. They allow for easy editing and multiple contributors to add content.

Here's a great video for explaining what wikis are! []

WYSIWYG - What you see is what you get...a term used for the editing interface of many wiki sites. The word "wiki" is actually a Hawaiian word for quick.



Getting Started:
Go to www.wikispaces.com and get an account to get started. Once you have an account, sign in.

Explore!
Find at least 3 characteristics these wikis have that you want your classroom wiki to have. Links are given below.

__**My recommended examples:**__ http://commoncorepcssd.wikispaces.com http://arkansasreaders.wikispaces.com http://cmsmediacenter.wikispaces.com/ Langston Magnet LMC

__Using Wikis in Content Areas:__
Mr. Bruce’s History
 * Ideas for using wikis in the library media center:** http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/--Wikis+to+Share
 * Article on using wikis in math classes:** []
 * 7th Grade Math Class Wiki:** http://7math.wikispaces.com/
 * Dean Goldgar's Math Class Wiki:** []
 * TheScienceClassroom**
 * 4th grade classroom wiki:** Soar 2 New Heights**Apalachee High School Media Center Wiki:** []
 * 5 Strategies for Using Wikis in the Classroom:** []
 * Good introduction to wikis with ideas for how they can be used in the media center and classroom:** http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Wikis
 * Using wikis to write research papers:** http://calnewport.com/blog/2009/05/11/how-to-build-a-paper-research-wiki/
 * Good overview with links to example wikis & uses in classroom:** []

__Links to educational wikis:__
**Civics Class wiki:** http://stephenveliz.wikispaces.com/Civics+Resources
 * Example wikis from Tony Vincent:** []
 * Great site for using wikis with students includes handouts:** []
 * Wikispaces's list of education wiki sites:** http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis
 * List of examples of class wikis:** []
 * Wetpaint's list of educational wikis:** []
 * Sign up for free educational wikis at Wetpaint:** []
 * Quick overview with links to examples:** http://mguhlin.wikispaces.com/wikiwiki
 * Wetpaint's ideas for how wikis can be used in the classroom:** []
 * Wikispaces Introduction:** http://help.wikispaces.com/Help.Introduction+to+Wikispaces
 * Wikispaces overview with videos:** http://learningweb2.wikispaces.com/Wikis+Overview**TeachersFirst Wiki Ideas for the Classroom:** []
 * Interview online of the state of wikis in education:** []
 * Mini Camp Wiki with student policies and sample contracts:** http://spacewithapurpose.wikispaces.com/Wikis+Home
 * Game template:** http://powerpointgames.wikispaces.com/PowerPoint+Game+Templates

Practice:

 * 1) Go to http://dscworkshop.wikispaces.com
 * 2) Ask to Join the wiki by clicking on “Join.”
 * 3) After joining, post a reply to the discussion question about “Wikis in the Classroom.”
 * 4) To do this, click on the discussion tab and type your reply in the text box and click on submit.
 * 5) Next, on the left, click on create a new page.
 * 6) Create the new page by naming it & clicking on create.
 * 7) Insert a picture from google images to your page that represents your subject area by going to [|www.google.com].
 * 8) Search for an appropriate image, save the image to your computer and insert the image.
 * 9) Finally, type an introduction to your page using 2 sizes of fonts on your page, a larger one for the heading and a smaller font for the content.

Tutorials:

 * Wikispaces Classroom** []
 * Video tutorial from Wikispaces:** http://www.wikispaces.com/site/tour#introduction
 * Wikispaces help blog:** []
 * Wikispaces Help for Teachers:** http://help.wikispaces.com/Help.Wikispaces.Teacher+Help
 * Powerpoint on using Wikispaces** http://www.ocdsb.edu.on.ca/Secondary_Websites/teacher_res/workshops/Wikispaces%20OCDSB.ppt
 * Handout on using wikispaces:** [[file:onlineconnections/Wikispaces Tutorial.pdf|http://onlineconnections.wikispaces.com/file/view/Wikispaces+Tutorial.pdf]]
 * Handout - editing a wiki:** [[file:educationalsoftware/Editing a Wiki.pdf|http://educationalsoftware.wikispaces.com/file/view/Editing+a+Wiki.pdf]]Free Technology for **Teachers Blog with tutorial for wikispaces:** []
 * Wiki tutorial with ppt and editing help:** http://educationalsoftware.wikispaces.com/Wikispaces+Tutorial
 * Powerpoint presentation available on slideshare:** []
 * Link to a slideshow outlining the basics of setting up a Wikispaces wiki by Richard Byrne** []

Widgets
http://gettingtrickywithwikis.wikispaces.com/ [] (requires a paid subscription now)
 * Got the basics down? Here's some sites for adding cool things to your wikis:**
 * Glogster handout** []

Additional Links:
**Blog post for using wikispaces in the classroom:** [] **Rubric for class webpage** (Might give some ideas that could be used for wikis too) [] **Design considerations:** []
 * Good overview of wikis with links:** []
 * Article on the top 10 tech skills teens need:** []
 * John Medina's 12 principles for how the brain works and how this should influence teaching:** []
 * Wiki Way Workshop with instructions for editing:** http://rachelboyd.wikispaces.com/wiki+workshop
 * Blog post of a nice short slideshow for explaining wikis:** []
 * Content for a class website:** [|http://www.wmich.edu/teachenglish/subpages/technology/classwebsite.htm#structure]
 * Content: [] **
 * Student contract:** []