Setting up a Wiki

Module 7

As a teacher, you want to gather input from learners in several classes either across the school or across geographical and cultural boundaries. Online Wiki collaborative documents are very effective in helping you achieve this because, being online, anyone can access the Wiki, which is a series of web pages. Have you designed collaborative group activities? Have you thought about the advantages of collaborating with other classes online?

Plan It Plan It

Think about the following questions, and if working with a partner, discuss your ideas. Writing your ideas on a sheet of paper might be helpful.

For what reason might you decide to use a Wiki?
What information or idea would you like to gather or share via this Wiki?
In what classroom context would you use this Wiki?

Note: There are no Help Guide resources to support this activity. We will use the Google Wiki for the purpose of this exercise. If you do not have a Google account we recommend that you create such an account before proceeding.

Do It

Start the web browser software, and go to http://www.google.co.za
Create an Google account for yourself if you do not have one by clicking on Create an account now this is free.
1. Complete the registration form. If you do not have an existing email address leave that field blank.
2. Click "I Accept" to create the account (do not worry, the term "account" does not mean you have to pay anything).
On the Google home page look on the top of the page under choices for more ▼ and find and click on Sites on the drop down menu.
On the sites page you will find Create a site from dozens of pre-built templates .
Use the Project wiki template to create your Wiki. To do so:
1. Click "Create site"
2. Choose a template to use like Project wiki.
3. Type in the "name of your site" the site e.g. Merensky Archery. The URL will be displayed e.g. http://sites.google.com.site/merenskyarchery.
4. Choose a theme.
5. Retype the code shown at the bottom of the page and click "Create site". You will be asked to do this step twice.
6. Use the Tip hyperlinks on the page to customise your Wiki, you can use the choices on the top of the Google site "Create page", "Edit Page" or "More actions".
Once you have completed the Wiki you need to share it. To do this send the website address to learners or teachers for collaboration.

Review It

Review the online collaborative document that you created. Consider the following questions:

Will the use of this Wiki enhance the lesson?
How will you introduce the use of the Wiki to the group?
How will you know whether the use of the Wiki has been a success?
How will you follow up after the use of the creation of the Wiki?

Share It

Be prepared to discuss your answers to the following questions during
sharing time:

How will your Wiki help you or another teacher to make a lesson a success?
For what other reasons might you use Wikis with learners or other teacher?
Which of the Internet skills that you learned today might you use again? For what types of tasks might you use those skills?

Module 7 Exploring the Internet

	Module 7 Setting up a Wiki for Collaboration As a teacher, you want to gather input from learners in several classes either across the school or across geographical and cultural boundaries. Online Wiki collaborative documents are very effective in helping you achieve this because, being online, anyone can access the Wiki, which is a series of web pages. Have you designed collaborative group activities? Have you thought about the advantages of collaborating with other classes online? Plan It Think about the following questions, and if working with a partner, discuss your ideas. Writing your ideas on a sheet of paper might be helpful. For what reason might you decide to use a Wiki? What information or idea would you like to gather or share via this Wiki? In what classroom context would you use this Wiki? Note: There are no Help Guide resources to support this activity. We will use the Google Wiki for the purpose of this exercise. If you do not have a Google account we recommend that you create such an account before proceeding. Do It Start the web browser software, and go to http://www.google.co.za Create an Google account for yourself if you do not have one by clicking on Create an account now this is free. Complete the registration form. If you do not have an existing email address leave that field blank. Click "I Accept" to create the account (do not worry, the term "account" does not mean you have to pay anything). On the Google home page look on the top of the page under choices for more ▼ and find and click on Sites on the drop down menu. On the sites page you will find Create a site from dozens of pre-built templates . Use the Project wiki template to create your Wiki. To do so: Click "Create site" Choose a template to use like Project wiki. Type in the "name of your site" the site e.g. Merensky Archery. The URL will be displayed e.g. http://sites.google.com.site/merenskyarchery. Choose a theme. Retype the code shown at the bottom of the page and click "Create site". You will be asked to do this step twice. Use the Tip hyperlinks on the page to customise your Wiki, you can use the choices on the top of the Google site "Create page", "Edit Page" or "More actions". Once you have completed the Wiki you need to share it. To do this send the website address to learners or teachers for collaboration. Review It Review the online collaborative document that you created. Consider the following questions: Will the use of this Wiki enhance the lesson? How will you introduce the use of the Wiki to the group? How will you know whether the use of the Wiki has been a success? How will you follow up after the use of the creation of the Wiki? Share It Be prepared to discuss your answers to the following questions during sharing time: How will your Wiki help you or another teacher to make a lesson a success? For what other reasons might you use Wikis with learners or other teacher? Which of the Internet skills that you learned today might you use again? For what types of tasks might you use those skills?