1. Using wikis to enhance teacher collaboration Lauren Taylor INDC 6031 October 30, 2009

2. Feeling disorganized? Do you have great ideas and no one has time to listen? Are you running out of time? Tired of sitting through numerous meetings?

3. Don’t Worry!!! Try out a wiki on your campus! Lessen your meeting times and allow your teachers more time to plan and collaborate on their own time.

4. What is a wiki? Wikis are a modern, technological version of conversations. Many people assume that a wiki is a type of blog. However, unlike a blog, a wiki offers users the ability to edit and add information as well as comment on posted topics. Ward Cunningham created the first wiki in 1995 in efforts to create a tool so that ordinary people could publish on the internet. “Wiki” comes from the Hawaiian word wiki-wiki, which means easy. A wiki is a essentially a website that can be quickly, easily, and collaboratively edited. http://web2tutorial.wikispaces.com/wikis

5. Have you ever used Wikipedia? Wikipedia is a well-known wiki that allows readers to create and improve upon reference sites about every imaginable topic. The content of Wikipedia is instantly editable, making it an extremely up-to-date information source. http://web2tutorial.wikispaces.com/wikis Popular educational wikis include: Wikispaces [www.wikispaces.com] PBWiki[pbwiki.com] Pikiwiki [pikiwiki.com] Wikidot [http://www.wikidot.com] Wetpaint [http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com]

6. Here are a few examples of some of the educational wikis available: Wikis in Education - Wikis in Education http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/ Screen clipping taken: 11/7/2009, 12:11 PM

7. Benefits of using wikis to collaborate Topic Ideas: Bounce ideas off of other educators who teach the same topics as you. Presentations: Create a wiki as a presentation instead of gathering for a formal meeting. Group Sharing: Create a wiki and share resources with team members in your school or district. Group FAQ: Post and respond to questions on a given topic. http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/page/Teacher+Peer+Wikis

8. A popular teacher-peer wiki is The Teachers’ Lounge. WELCOME - THE TEACHERS' LOUNGE http://theteacherslounge.wetpaint.com/ Screen clipping taken: 11/7/2009, 5:31 PM

9. Click on the following links to view examples of teacher-created wikis. Classroom Strategies Lesson Plans Teaching Tools

11. VandalismGood news! There are specific users assigned as writers and admins who work hard to ensure that the information within the wiki is appropriate. The site also provides revision history, which shows who has edited the site and what changes he or she made.

12. Implementing wikis among campuses can be an incredibly efficient and convenient way of communicating and collaborating without the hassle of finding time and resources needed to meet face to face. While formal meetings are still very necessary and appropriate, the wiki can provide the additional time and resources and can be accessed from most anywhere. Ready to try it for yourself? Click hereand open the link to begin the journey and create your first wiki. Enjoy!!