Wikis

What is it?

A wiki is a website that allows the easy creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used to create collaborative websites, to power community websites, for personal note taking, in corporate intranets, and in knowledge management systems. Wiki is a Hawaiian word for fast.

Creators of a wiki can determine security levels. A wiki can be:

• private - only viewed and edited by members
• viewed by the public but only edited by members
• viewed and edited by anyone (not recommended for education wikis)

Wikipedia is an example of a very large public wiki which can be edited by any user.

The Ultranet will have functionality enabling Victorian Government school users to create wikis.

What does it look like?

What's happening in Victorian schools?

• The Netbook Trial wiki (2009 - 2010) - Includes an excellent range of resources designed to support teachers participating in the Netbook Trial. Participants in the trial have also contributed a large number of their own resources and ideas. See: Netbook Trial wiki
• The Middle P Geelong on the Move wiki (Bellaire Primary School, 2008) - Students used Wikispaces to collaboratively create a history wiki that looks at how Geelong has changed over time.
• The Schoolyard Blitz wiki (Mooroolbark College, 2008) - Teachers created a collaborative challenge for students to redesign the school yard surrounds using a set budget.
• The ICT Toolkit (Hume region ICT wiki, 2008) - Ultranet coaches from Hume region created this wiki to share knowledge of ICT resources used in education.
• ePotential - There are many excellent examples and resources to assist teachers in the creation of wikis in ePotential. You can find them by logging in using your eight digit pin/TO number and then searching for 'wikis'.

How to guide

Setting up a wiki

Setting up a wiki is a quick and easy process. Users create a name for their wiki which becomes part of the web address, choose a user name and decide on the level of security for the wiki. There are two main educational wiki providers who have an ad-free option for education; Wikispaces and PB Works.

Users can begin to create content in any wiki by clicking 'edit' on the main page. Content can then be typed and edited in a similar manner to programs like Word. Additional pages can be created for the wiki and links, documents, videos or photos added.

Each wiki allows new members to be invited via email from within the site. The level of administrative rights for each member can be chosen. Given that wikis allow users to work on, modify, and overwrite each other’s work, there is a need for agreed 'rules of engagement' by students and teachers. Contributors need to understand that their work may be deleted and changed by others and that their contributions may potentially be read by many other readers.

Wikis keep a chronological history for every page. Therefore nothing is lost forever, no changes can be completely destructive, and revisions can always be undone. Pages including essential information can be 'locked' to avoid problems. Pages within a wiki can be monitored, with the Administrator receiving notification of any changes to that page - which is why an error in a site like Wikipedia can be corrected in a matter of a few minutes.

Cyber safety

It is important to get permission from parents to publish student work or pictures to the internet. Students should also sign an acceptable use agreement. They need to be clear that personal information such as full names or addresses should never be published on the web and should be aware of their 'digital footprint' (the sum of the information and images about themselves on the internet).

Teachers can view Videos and explore Teaching and Learning Resources related to online safety at Learning On Line. It is critical that teachers are fully aware of your professional responsibilities in an online environment.

Working online

PB Works

How it works: The basic version is free and allows one workspace, up to 100 users, email support and 2GB storage.

Safety information: It has a variety of security settings. Students should not upload identifying images of themselves or provide personal information.

Wetpaint

How it works: Wetpaint wikis can be set up in three quick steps. They include advertising.

Safety information: The site is intended for users over the age of 13. Each member of a site has a profile page. Students should not add personal information to this page and should not upload a photo identifying themselves. Ad-free wikis for education are no longer available. To have an ad-free site users need to pay for a premium site. 

Wikispaces

How it works: The basic version is free and allows for one wiki to be created with unlimited users and up to 2GB storage. The default option includes advertising. Ad-free wikis for education can be requested.

Safety information: The 'Plus' option currently costs $5 a month and allows private spaces to be created and removes advertising.