Why Use a Wiki?Why Use a Wiki?

Because wiki’s:Because wiki’s:

Allow the Allow the disorganizeddisorganized to be to be organizedorganized by by storing all information in storing all information in

ONE EASY TO FIND PLACE!ONE EASY TO FIND PLACE! Students can store:Students can store: links to sourceslinks to sources pre-writingpre-writing journalingjournaling imagesimages work in progress (in work in progress (in

increments)increments) Edited versionsEdited versions Teacher comments and Teacher comments and

correspondencecorrespondence

Teachers can store:Teachers can store: lessons for each daylessons for each day notes for revisiting by studentsnotes for revisiting by students promptsprompts all students work (drafts, etc.)all students work (drafts, etc.) model writingmodel writing practice assignmentspractice assignments Questions from students about Questions from students about

their worktheir work links to supplemental articles links to supplemental articles

and informationand information

SAVE TREES!!!!SAVE TREES!!!!

Allow teachers to track the progress and Allow teachers to track the progress and process of students work, which:process of students work, which:

Reduces procrastinationReduces procrastination Allows for frequent and Allows for frequent and

useful feedbackuseful feedback Helps eliminate plagiarismHelps eliminate plagiarism Makes keeping tabs on a Makes keeping tabs on a

student’s work quick and student’s work quick and easyeasy

Helps teachers spot Helps teachers spot problems early on so that problems early on so that they can notify parents they can notify parents quickly before a student quickly before a student crashes and burns.crashes and burns.

Allows students to read each other’s Allows students to read each other’s work and to give feedback.work and to give feedback.

Students write for each other, not just you (might motivate Students write for each other, not just you (might motivate them to try harder!)them to try harder!)

Students can feed off of each other’s ideas (collaboration!)Students can feed off of each other’s ideas (collaboration!) Students can learn from each other’s Students can learn from each other’s

research/topics/perspectivesresearch/topics/perspectives Makes the project more alive—not just an artifact written for Makes the project more alive—not just an artifact written for

one teacher, possibly to be reused as is throughout a one teacher, possibly to be reused as is throughout a student’s education to fulfill a seemingly purposeless student’s education to fulfill a seemingly purposeless requirement.requirement.

Allow students and teachers to use “cool” and Allow students and teachers to use “cool” and interesting techniques to impart informationinteresting techniques to impart information..

– Plugins (Powerpoints, videos with sound)Plugins (Powerpoints, videos with sound)– ImagesImages– GraphicsGraphics– Different layoutsDifferent layouts– Links to other sites with interesting Links to other sites with interesting

graphicsgraphics

Wikis are a teaching method that adapts to the Wikis are a teaching method that adapts to the “’new neurology’ of student’s brains”“’new neurology’ of student’s brains”

Studies show that Studies show that students have students have developed “hypertext developed “hypertext minds”. They leap minds”. They leap around. It’s as though around. It’s as though their cognitive their cognitive structures are parallel, structures are parallel, not sequential.”not sequential.”

Revenge of the Right BrainRevenge of the Right Brain

Are more frequently being used in the Are more frequently being used in the real world after high school!real world after high school!

Project managers use wikis to Project managers use wikis to track worktrack work

McDonalds, Sony, Disney, and McDonalds, Sony, Disney, and BMW have started using wikis to BMW have started using wikis to manage documentsmanage documents

Medical professionals use wikis as Medical professionals use wikis as repositories for training information repositories for training information and past papersand past papers

Cities use wikis as a way to let Cities use wikis as a way to let people share resources, people share resources, experiences, and favorite experiences, and favorite diversionsdiversions