Wikis

Overview:

A wiki is a web page (or a collection of web pages) that anyone can edit right in their browser. Most wikis allow you to restrict who can edit and/or see certain pages.  Most of us are familiar with the Wikipedia which is an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, but you can also create and edit your own wikis.

Objectives:
  1. Edit, add or delete content within the Wikipedia
  2. Create your own wiki using a free web service
  3. Edit Brian’s “Lab Wiki” and contribute to his page
The More You Know:

Wikipedia

Besides being one of the most well known wikis, Wikipedia is also the largest general reference website on the Internet. Its popularity stems from the fact that anyone with an Internet connection can create and edit pages within the site.  Most of the pages can be edited without even logging in, but due to site vandalism they have had to require this for more controversial topics and people.

Wikipedia still uses wiki markup to edit its pages (which is intended to be easier than HTML, but still not fun) so changing or contributing information can be tricky at first.  To get started:

Wikispaces

The wiki engine (software) that runs Wikipedia is free to use, but needs to be installed on a server that you have access to.  Not many of us lease server space so we need an easier solution.  Enter the web-based wiki creators! The first wiki-creation website we’ll look at is Wikispaces.

Once you have a teacher account:

  • Follow the directions on your homepage to add some basic content
  • Click on the “embed widgets” button and flood your page with media to see how they all work
  • Add a new page and link the two together

If you hit a snag you can click the “Help” link at the top of each page.

PBworks

PBworks (formerly PBwiki) is another web-based wiki creation site that we’ll explore.  You can create an account and a new wiki here (be sure to select the free option). Your wiki homepage comes with some content to get you started, but you can delete it all under the “Edit” tab and begin putting in your own content.  Other things to try:

  • Click the “Insert Plugin” and experiment with some of the content types, such as
    • Your Skype Status
    • Google Gadgets
    • Videos (either from YouTube or your own computer)
    • Equations
  • Edit the content in your sidebar and perhaps add a table of contents
  • Try creating a new page and choosing a template for it
Your Performance Tasks:
  1. Find a page or subject in the Wikipedia and add a notable fact, photograph (that you own), or correction.  You may wish to edit pages related to your school or town, an educational theory (TPACK, anyone?), or other areas of interest and expertise you have (art, gardening, books, cooking, etc.).
  2. Go to http://maetyear2.pbworks.com/ and add a link to the Wikipedia page you’ve edited. Please include a very brief description of what you changed, added or deleted.
Due Date:

All tasks for this lab must be completed by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 22nd.

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