Wikis

A wiki is essentially a website constructed in such a way as to allow users to change content on the site. Wikipedia is probably one of the most famous wikis that is used daily by thousands of people.

The following video has teachers explaining their views about this new technology :



Teachers can :

1. Increase student engagement using a safe online wiki.

2. Stop waiting for someone to design an easy-to-update web space!

3. Create a no-hassle way to showcase students' work online.

4. develop a wiki as no IT is required.

To check out more about how wikis can be used in education see http://pbwiki.com/education.wiki

Exercise :

Your wiki could be about anything you want. Each page need only be a few sentences if you'd like. We have organised a training wiki for you to use as a sandpit .

To give you some training in working with a wiki you can :

1) add or change items on pages already there, then
2) make your own page and add it to sidebar.

Topics for your page are up to you but could include any of the suggestions below -

a) Document something that would be useful for others to know if you won lotto and had to leave work for a life of luxury;

b) complete a page about a hobby or passion; or

c) Plan a holiday and link to useful accommodation sites, places of interest, an itinerary etc

Next step is to create your own wiki. For the first time we suggest using PBwiki.

Wikis can be public (people can see it on the web) or private (only those with a login can see it). Participants will only be able to edit it if you give them the password. The instructions at the PBwiki site are very clear.

The following video shows some of the really 'cool' things that you can do with PBwiki.

IF YOU WANT MORE:Try creating a wiki at one of these fee wiki sites: Wikispaces, Wetpaint , SeedWiki, Netcipia , StikiPad, Moinmoin .