What+about+Wikis

=Wikis in the classroom= Please review the resource links, then list strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the table below. Leave a space between each new SWOT item.

Resource links:
[|Wikipedia] Using Wikis in the Classroom [|Basic Wiki Walk-Through] Examples of Educational Wikis [|Webquest About Wikis] [|Project Ideas] [|Library Wiki] [|TeachTech K-12] [|Wiki Teaching Success] [|Teachers First] [|Wikibooks] [|Library Success] [|Wiki Becomes Textbook in College Classroom] [|Maintaining Legacy with Wikipedia] (Podcast by Alan November)

Wiki Sites
Wikispaces PBworks Wikispace [|Wetpaint]

=__SWOT ANALYSIS__=

Strengths:

 * 1) Everyone has a voice.
 * 2) Emphasizes teamwork.
 * 3) Gives students time to think and respond.
 * 4) Available anytime: day or night
 * 5) Documents can be added to or edited by anyone with permission
 * 6) Documents and reports can be worked on collaboratively without face-to-face meetings
 * 7) Allows teachers to track participation.
 * 8) Encourages critical thinking/organizational skills.
 * 9) Allows for using the internet in a positive, constructive manner.
 * 10) Empowers students
 * 11) Reinforces word processing skills
 * 12) Sharing information world-wide
 * 13) Often reflects recently updated information.
 * 14) Responsibility for contribution to the wiki can be shared by inviting multiple users with similar interests.

Weaknesses:

 * 1) Editing requires some practice.
 * 2) Students might want to post/edit at the same time.
 * 3) Ensuring that every student has proper __access__.
 * 4) How do we prevent plagiarism or copyright infringement?
 * 5) Could consume too much class time.
 * 6) Some students do not have access to the internet at home.
 * 7) Difficult to monitor proper editing
 * 8) The editing process could become all consuming for the teachers of younger students
 * 9) One key value of a wiki is collaboration, but it is difficult to design meaningful collaborative projects, especially beyond the classroom.
 * 10) There are a lot of incomplete or empty wikis out there when you search under specific topics.
 * 11) Usage of additional sign on passwords can become troublesome
 * 12) Seems better for older students that can read and write; Difficult for kindergarten
 * 13) Many of the wikis are set up more like a webpage. They are not taking full advantage of the collaboration feature.
 * 14) Older students may have freedom of inappropriate anonymity unless __steps__ ensure otherwise.
 * 15) Validity of information posted cannot always be assumed.

Opportunities:

 * 1) Collaborate with students from other __schools__ on topics of common interest.
 * 2) Collaborate and learn with other students around the world.
 * 3) Work can continue from home seamlessly-students don't need to go to someone else's house
 * 4) Extension/enhancement of technology use
 * 5) Develop a tool to update curriculum amongst several teachers
 * 6) Collaborate schedules for parents __volunteering__ (times/dates)
 * 7) Teachers have an opportunity to achieve tech proficiency in order to help students or others learn to use this social networking tool.
 * 8) Teachers have the opportunity to learn from their students as well, through student postings.
 * 9) Ability to experience and maintain cutting edge technology
 * 10) Is a creative __venue__ that may help motivate the reluctant learner.
 * 11) Efficient tool for planning and completing an extensive, time-consuming project;
 * 12) Sharing ideas with others in your field is rewarding at both ends
 * 13) Provides opportunities for students to discern the importance of questioning web content
 * 14) Wikis are great for __teacher__ collaboration.

Threats:

 * 1) Anyone can change content unless proper security settings are in place.
 * 2) Discussions of editing etiquette needed.
 * 3) Need to make sure students are protected to the level of the parent request (ie. publications permission sheet)
 * 4) This type of teaching format may be expected of all teachers.
 * 5) Could my information be tracked down by others who could send me viruses, etc

= = =IDEAS FOR THE CLASSROOM=
 * Build a story by having each student add to the existing story line.
 * Build a wiki about the seven continents. After reviewing, each continent ask students to post two facts about what they have learned.
 * For a grammar lesson, have the students edit a paragraph inserting all punctuation and capitalization.
 * For any Middle or Upper Division written project, this is a great place for students to save and collaborate on work.
 * Continuous updating of curriculum and lesson plans.
 * Sharing ideas between grade levels and divisions.
 * K-1: Create an animal alphabet wiki
 * Elementary grades create a spelling wiki that could become a virtual word wall.
 * Create a classroom Wiki to communicate with parents and teachers. A teacher can use a Wiki to list homework assignments, grades, lessons. class pictures, class news letters, etc. The teacher can also create a classroom wiki for students to write daily reflection and attach links for the classroom blog. (M. Fernandez, 2/15/09)
 * For a science research project, have students create a wiki to collaboratively outline the steps of the scientific method.
 * Book Club for intermediate students. The teacher can use their own class or create a Book Club afterschool and include any interested students and teachers.
 * Resource for Reading teachers - Each reading standard can have its own page where teachers can add ideas, strategies, articles, websites, etc. that address the reading skills.

Links to Examples

 * Many Examples Shared by Teachers, for Teachers!
 * [|Pledge Wiki] Students write about what the pledge means to them.
 * Seventh Grade English Wiki***
 * White's Geometry Wiki
 * [|Calculus Wiki]
 * [|Shanghai American School 9th Grade History Wiki]
 * [|Sixth Grade History Wiki]
 * [|Book Study Wiki]
 * Australian Problem Based Learning Wiki
 * Flat Classroom Project ***
 * A Broken World Wiki
 * Eighth Grade Civil War Poetry***
 * Terry the Tennis Ball
 * [|World at Work]
 * Beowolf Poetry Wiki
 * [|Wikipedia at UBC]
 * [|Science - Earth's Composition]
 * [|Middle School Science] - with a wiki user agreement