Comments on: Wiki Project - Fresh Start http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/ Education, technology, and everything in between Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:38:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Kate http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-547 Kate Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:30:25 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-547 James Byers » Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to us on this! I'm a big fan of wikispaces and it's great to hear that changes are in the works. I'm also extremely happy with your customer service last night when I tweeted about get the ad4dcss wiki upgraded to ad-free. Very impressive response, thank you again! James Byers » Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to us on this! I’m a big fan of wikispaces and it’s great to hear that changes are in the works. I’m also extremely happy with your customer service last night when I tweeted about get the ad4dcss wiki upgraded to ad-free. Very impressive response, thank you again!

]]> By: James Byers http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-544 James Byers Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:57:13 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-544 Hi Kate, Talia, James from Wikispaces here. Getting Wikispaces to look a bit more friendly (and less dull!) is something we're working on right now. We'll announce this on our blog when it's ready to go; in the meantime, if there are aspects of how our wikis look and work that you don't like, drop us a note at help@wikispaces.com. Thanks! Hi Kate, Talia,

James from Wikispaces here. Getting Wikispaces to look a bit more friendly (and less dull!) is something we’re working on right now. We’ll announce this on our blog when it’s ready to go; in the meantime, if there are aspects of how our wikis look and work that you don’t like, drop us a note at help@wikispaces.com. Thanks!

]]> By: Kate http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-493 Kate Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:03:56 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-493 Talia » Thanks for visiting - you've been an inspiration as I started this Wordpress journey :-) As for wikispaces vs. wetpaint, etc, I have to admit that it's what I started on and it's been easier to just stick with it for use with students. As I explore other platforms more I'm sure I'll feel better venturing out. I completely agree with your comment about the look - not so pretty. Talia » Thanks for visiting - you’ve been an inspiration as I started this Wordpress journey :-) As for wikispaces vs. wetpaint, etc, I have to admit that it’s what I started on and it’s been easier to just stick with it for use with students. As I explore other platforms more I’m sure I’ll feel better venturing out. I completely agree with your comment about the look - not so pretty.

]]> By: Talia http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-481 Talia Wed, 09 Apr 2008 04:52:38 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-481 Hi Kate, looks like you're getting the hang of your wordpress install!! I'm sure you'll like it- it's lots of freedom. :-) I was wondering why you use wikispaces and not other wiki sites like wetpaint. I find wikispaces to always look a little dull and confusing... Hi Kate, looks like you’re getting the hang of your wordpress install!! I’m sure you’ll like it- it’s lots of freedom. :-)

I was wondering why you use wikispaces and not other wiki sites like wetpaint. I find wikispaces to always look a little dull and confusing…

]]> By: Louise Maine http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-475 Louise Maine Sun, 06 Apr 2008 01:54:32 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-475 My wiki is an example of pair work/individual work/group work. https://mrsmaineswiki.wikispaces.com/ Walk them through little parts and give little tasks to start. One other suggestion: Lock pages. Go to manage space/List pages/Choose your page and lock it. That stops them from changing the home page. I do that. Sometimes I forget and then are remonded when a page is wiped out or messed with it. Easy to fix, but easier to prevent. My wiki is an example of pair work/individual work/group work.
https://mrsmaineswiki.wikispaces.com/

Walk them through little parts and give little tasks to start.

One other suggestion: Lock pages. Go to manage space/List pages/Choose your page and lock it. That stops them from changing the home page.

I do that. Sometimes I forget and then are remonded when a page is wiped out or messed with it. Easy to fix, but easier to prevent.

]]> By: Rick http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-473 Rick Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:48:54 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-473 Yep, you need a projector! That you're able to get that much accomplished without one is pretty amazing. Imagine how much learning will take place once they can actually see what's supposed to go on on the screen. Yep, you need a projector! That you’re able to get that much accomplished without one is pretty amazing. Imagine how much learning will take place once they can actually see what’s supposed to go on on the screen.

]]> By: Damian http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-472 Damian Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:52:16 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-472 After I completed my first student wiki project last year, I wrote up a few sections for teachers, including reflections, student feedback, and assessment criteria. You can find these at the bottom of the sidebar menu at http://britishromanticism.wikispaces.com Also, I put together an overview of wikis for a presentation I gave this past February here: http://njascd-wikis.wikispaces.com - some intro and how-to stuff on there, as well as links to examples of what I call "Tier 1" and "Tier 2" wikis. After I completed my first student wiki project last year, I wrote up a few sections for teachers, including reflections, student feedback, and assessment criteria. You can find these at the bottom of the sidebar menu at http://britishromanticism.wikispaces.com

Also, I put together an overview of wikis for a presentation I gave this past February here: http://njascd-wikis.wikispaces.com - some intro and how-to stuff on there, as well as links to examples of what I call “Tier 1″ and “Tier 2″ wikis.

]]> By: Carolynn Bruton http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-471 Carolynn Bruton Sat, 05 Apr 2008 09:06:02 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-471 Hi Kate Last term I gave the Grade 5 girls (two classes of 28) a wiki project on early man in Africa as outlined here: https://springfieldearlyman.pbwiki.com/ (use veritas as the invite key). Go to "show all pages" below to find the project outlines and the girls' individual pages. The welcome page is at the bottom. It's a first for me but as I have these girls for an hour a week for the next 2 1/2 years I thought we could all build on the skills learned here. It has been a reasonable success and many of them have gone on to make their own wiki's. The girls who were disadvantaged were those who were paired with a lazy partner, those with poor time-management skills and those who had no internet access at home. Most of them managed to create hyperlinks, answer specific questions, upload pics and assess their final product. I was unsuccessful in getting professionals to act as guides (e.g. anthropologists,) and am keen to get professional feedback on how I can improve my design and presentation of my project. Very few girls looked at the guidelines provided - I think because navigation was to complex. Regards, Carolynn B Hi Kate
Last term I gave the Grade 5 girls (two classes of 28) a wiki project on early man in Africa as outlined here: https://springfieldearlyman.pbwiki.com/
(use veritas as the invite key). Go to “show all pages” below to find the project outlines and the girls’ individual pages. The welcome page is at the bottom.
It’s a first for me but as I have these girls for an hour a week for the next 2 1/2 years I thought we could all build on the skills learned here.
It has been a reasonable success and many of them have gone on to make their own wiki’s.
The girls who were disadvantaged were those who were paired with a lazy partner, those with poor time-management skills and those who had no internet access at home.
Most of them managed to create hyperlinks, answer specific questions, upload pics and assess their final product.

I was unsuccessful in getting professionals to act as guides (e.g. anthropologists,) and am keen to get professional feedback on how I can improve my design and presentation of my project. Very few girls looked at the guidelines provided - I think because navigation was to complex.

Regards,
Carolynn B

]]> By: murcha http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-470 murcha Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:11:03 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-470 Hi Kate I find that students love working with wikis and that it is quite a user friendly tool. the most tedious part, I find is inviting the students in, as this takes time to set up. So, I logon and get them to type in their individual email addresses. They then return to their desktop and activate the email they receive. However, I find that email can take a few days, which again, slows down the process. How did you get your students in? Our students have also started their pages with an about me section (no personal details) with general information about their favourite foods, sport, interests etc. It is indeed unfortunate that you only have those students for such a short time, as you will then need to consider what becomes of their wikis once they leave your classroom. Anne Hi Kate
I find that students love working with wikis and that it is quite a user friendly tool. the most tedious part, I find is inviting the students in, as this takes time to set up. So, I logon and get them to type in their individual email addresses. They then return to their desktop and activate the email they receive. However, I find that email can take a few days, which again, slows down the process. How did you get your students in? Our students have also started their pages with an about me section (no personal details) with general information about their favourite foods, sport, interests etc.
It is indeed unfortunate that you only have those students for such a short time, as you will then need to consider what becomes of their wikis once they leave your classroom.
Anne

]]> By: Sue Wyatt http://www.katesays.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-469 Sue Wyatt Sat, 05 Apr 2008 01:39:38 +0000 http://googtweetblog.edublogs.org/2008/04/04/wiki-project-fresh-start/#comment-469 Hi Kate, I started using a wiki with my history class. Instructions were, in pairs, they had to research a topic relating to the local municiapality. They would have to conduct an interview and or send emails to get information as well as use the internet and other sources. They began by putting their questions on their page, then typing in answers as found. Other students could put comments on page of other references they had found. The final product I will be assessing is at least one paragraph on topic, including hyperlinks or referencing, images or diagrams with appropriate sourcing and a quiz created by the students. I included the wiki rubric on the first page as well so they knew how they were being assessed. Some kids have done well, others not even got permission yet to be on the wiki. http://sorelltas.wikispaces.com Hi Kate,

I started using a wiki with my history class. Instructions were, in pairs, they had to research a topic relating to the local municiapality. They would have to conduct an interview and or send emails to get information as well as use the internet and other sources. They began by putting their questions on their page, then typing in answers as found. Other students could put comments on page of other references they had found. The final product I will be assessing is at least one paragraph on topic, including hyperlinks or referencing, images or diagrams with appropriate sourcing and a quiz created by the students. I included the wiki rubric on the first page as well so they knew how they were being assessed.

Some kids have done well, others not even got permission yet to be on the wiki.

http://sorelltas.wikispaces.com

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