Wikis

I have really enjoyed learning about Wikis so far. I never realized how easy they are to use and how accessible they are. We watched a video in class that explained what they are, how to use them, and reasons one might use them. In the video, some friends were planning a camping trip and needed to figure out who would bring what supplies. Each friend would edit the page and submit what items they had. It showed me how Wikis can make something like planning a camping trip very organized.

Anyone with internet access can view and change items on a Wiki page. The best thing about a Wiki is that anyone can get on it at anytime and edit. You can add pictures, videos, and sounds to your page. It is a great way to communicate when dealing with group projects.

In class, we created a Wiki page and each of us linked our own page to the home page. On our pages, we included a picture of ourselves and gave some information about who we are and why we want to teach. We learned how to wrap the text around the picture. This was a great way to feel like a community and to get to know each other. After this assignment, I felt confident in my knowledge about Wikis.

I think they would be a great addition to a classroom, for instance if you are planning a field trip and need parents to volunteer to help. If you are planning a party in the classroom for a holiday and you need parents to contribute, you could create a Wiki and post the link on the classroom website. This way, whenever parents get a chance, they can go on there and write what they can bring.

Depending on the grade I teach, Wikis would be useful when assigning group projects. I can teach my students how to use them and how they can sign on during their own free time to comment on their project. Wikis would also be useful when collaborating with other teachers teaching the same grade level. If we are working on a lesson plan, we can create a Wiki and get feedback from one another without having to schedule a time in our busy day to meet.

The possibilities with Wikis are endless. I have gained an appreciation for them and plan to use them in the future quite a bit!