A Tutorial By Jennifer Wagner

is a type of website that allows the visitors themselves to easily add, remove and otherwise edit and change some available content, sometimes without the need for registration. This ease of interaction and operation makes a wiki an effective tool for collaborative authoring. –Definition of Wiki." Wikipedia. 03:55, 19 September Sep What’s A Wiki

Using a wiki allows you to collaborate with people online (students, parents, peers, administration, etc.) Wiki’s allow you to paginate your thoughts rather than show your thoughts chronologically (as with a blog) A Wiki will show the times of editing (and who the editor was) to keep consistency and accuracy in the data you are gathering. Wiki’s are an easy tool to use – much like a word processor. Why A Wiki??

Sign Up for an account at Wikispaces is offering a free “NO ADS” space to educators You can add text, websites, images, and media Wiki’s are a great way to communicate on the internet with students, parents, teachers, etc. Sign Up

Fill in all the spaces and make sure you mark where indicated!!

View your Page Once you have created your account, you will need to sign in. You will see this screen:

Opening Page Left side is your navigation –New Page, Recent Changes, Manage Space, Search & Home

Opening Page Top area are your page tools –Edit, page, Discussion, History, & Notify Me

Opening Page The Center Area is where your text will go

Edit Your First Page Click on the word Edit You will see this toolbar: It works just like a word processor You can add lines, links, pictures, media sources, tables, and special characters

Edit Your First Page Type in some information. Use the bold, underline, etc to see what happens.

To add a hyperlink Type in either a website name – such as Technospud or the complete URL – such as Highlight the text and click on the WORLD icon (the first world on the toolbar.)

To add a hyperlink You will see this window: If you wish to link within the wiki, you would use the wiki link – that is how you can link from page to page within your wiki. For right now – try using the external link and type in the link you wish to go to once you click on the text.

Save Your Page Once you have added text to your page, make sure you SAVE your page.

Working With Your Wiki The left side tools allow you to work through your page. If you wish to create a NEW page, just click on NEW page. All editing, etc stays the same on each page. Recent changes is a great way to track what is added to your page. (**more on this later) Manage your space gives you control over your page.

Manage Space The Manage Space page gives you four items to work with –About This lets you know who controls your page, if you have any other people who can post (members), and also your page license. –Space Contents Lets you see what pages you have created, files you have uploaded, statistics, import a blog, and backing up or exporting your page. (except for pages and files…this is advanced wikiness in my humble opinion!!) –Space Promotion Lets you brag about your page or post a wikispace image on your personal home page/ / etc.

Manage Space The next area is pretty important….. –Space Settings First of all – you can set the name, description and license. –The license area should be read carefully because it gives you control over what people can do with what is posted in your wiki. The Look & Feel area gives you the ability to colorize your wiki to your liking. Also the layout and if you wish to add an image as your logo. Grins, and if you are brave (I am not) you can edit the wiki styles sheet. Members & Permissions allows you to invite people to View And/Or Post (such as students, fellow teachers, etc) Subscription – Double Check this area – you should have an ad-free site!!!

Ways to Use Wikis To create a place to share ideas, gain information, and troubleshoot To create an environment where students can share information. To allow parents the ability to view homework, students’ thoughts, interact with the teacher. To allow staff to communicate during staff meetings and to ensure everyone is aware of same information. To create a site where students/parents/teachers/admin & more can come as a portal to other sites.

A Tutorial By Jennifer Wagner