Dan McDowellWest Hills High School

wikiadventures.wikispaces.comahistoryteacher.com

CHOOSE YOUR OWN WIKI ADVENTURE Using wikis with K-12 students

(Version 2.0)

WHAT IS A WIKI?

• Easily edited web site• Edited by anyone - or at least by

members• Ability to trace history

of edits• Part of Web 2.0• Wikipedia

WHY USE WIKIS WITH STUDENTS?

• Let students edit pages online?• They already do it - blogs,

MySpace, Facebook, etc.• It is natural to them, they are

digital natives• They need to do it formally - social

interactions are much different!

WHAT THEY SAID

• Do you feel that using the Internet for this project is "natural" because of the other technologies or web sites you already use socially?

WHAT THEY SAID

• “Yes, I honestly believe that because so many of us are already on the computer a lot anyway, it helps. All I had to do is just take a break from talking to people and write up the pages and link them. I didn't have to go get my backpack or anything.”

WHAT THEY SAID

• “… this is obviously more formal than just typing up a myspace blog or something. maINly beCAUse MY TYPING DoesN"T look likE 6thiS.”

WIKI TOOLS

• Tools not defining - projects can be done on any of these!

• Free/Hosted Solutions - Wikispaces, PBWiki

• Self Installed - MediaWiki, TikiWiki

• Moodle!

LOGISTICS

• Open vs. closed systems• Need to regulate, keep students in

check• Individual or group login• Vandalism, spam, etc.• District network policies

LOGISTICS

WIKI EDITING 101

• A two-page job aid and 10 minutes of instruction. That’s it.

WIKI EDITING 101

• Naming convention

DESIGN PATTERNS

• Bernie Dodge, SDSU Professor• Similar to WebQuest Design

Patterns• Wiki Design Patterns Matrix

PUBLICATION TOOL

• Students can easily publish their work

• Create collections of student work• Online/electronic/digital portfolios

WORLD WAR I POETRY

AP WORLD HISTORY REVIEW

• Micropedia Design Pattern• Created list of essential review questions• Assigned topics across all four classes• Groups researched single question,

posted response• Groups validated at least two other

articles• AP World History Review Wiki Project

HOLOCAUST WIKI PROJECT

TikiWiki MediaWiki

HOLOCAUST WIKI PROJECT

• Essentially a WebQuest• TreeSim / Ant Farm Wiki Design

Pattern• Content depth vs. standards• Sensitive topic• Skill focus => Decision Making• Complex requirements

HOLOCAUST PROJECT PROCESS

1. Develop a family from assigned region

2. Research country, stages of the Holocaust

HOLOCAUST PROJECT PROCESS

3. Create Progression of Events Chart - Map of Branching Simulation

HOLOCAUST PROJECT PROCESS

HOLOCAUST PROJECT PROCESS

HOLOCAUST PROJECT PROCESS

4. Write the narrative

HOLOCAUST PROJECT PROCESS

5. Place in wiki, edit, add images

EXAMPLE PROJECTS

• 2005 - Example• 2006 - Example

REFLECTIONS

• Project Complexity / Time• Historical Accuracy• Decisions vs. Results• Using the Wiki

Wiki Adventures Web Site

• Developed to help teachers• Guides to help you integrate wikis

into your own classroom• Want to collaborate? Just request

to join the space!

CHOOSE YOUR OWN WIKI ADVENTURE

Dan McDowell, West Hills High School

Thank you for your time.

Presentation, links, and handouts at:

wikiadventures.wikispaces.com

Thanks to my students for their hard work and willingness to try new things (not that they had a choice)