GTRI_B-1 Wide World of Wikis and Blogs: a novice guide Jessica Pater Georgia Tech Research Institute August 25, 2007

GTRI_B-2 Overview Define concepts and trends Define concepts and trends Blogs Blogs Wikis Wikis Designing your own! Designing your own!

GTRI_B-3 The Web 2.0 Classroom Learning, Classrooms, Peers, Collaborations, Conversations, Colleagues, Content

GTRI_B-4 Benefits Within the Classroom Read/Reflect/Write Read/Reflect/Write Engages students in conversation and learning Engages students in conversation and learning Empowers students Empowers students Creates a learning community Creates a learning community Extends the audience for writing beyond the teacher Extends the audience for writing beyond the teacher Allows for instant and continuous feedback Allows for instant and continuous feedback Promotes creativity Promotes creativity Supports differentiation Supports differentiation Encourages further study Encourages further study Builds technology skills Builds technology skills

GTRI_B-5 What is a Blog? A combination of web and log A combination of web and log A website where entries are written and displayed; provide commentary on a multitude of subjects A website where entries are written and displayed; provide commentary on a multitude of subjects Often incorporates images, video, links, and other media into the text Often incorporates images, video, links, and other media into the text Readers have the ability to comment on postings Readers have the ability to comment on postings

GTRI_B-6 Uses Within the Classroom 1. Instruction or tutor blog: resources, information, space to chat 2. Learner blog: reflections, sharing links and pics, fosters ownership of learning 3. Partner blog: work on team projects or activities 4. Class blog: international exchanges, projects PBL 5. Revision: review and explode sentences from previous posts, add details 6. Nutshell: summarize themes or comments across blogs 7. Blog on blog: reflections on feelings, confusions, and experiences with blogs Bonk 2007

GTRI_B-7 Blogger Software: The Choices are endless! Blogger: Blogger: 21 Classes: 21 Classes: Dairyland: Dairyland: Live Journal: Live Journal: Moveable Type: Moveable Type: Pitas: Pitas: Elgg: Elgg:

GTRI_B-8 Educational Blogs Uses: replace the standard class web page, integration of internet into courses, organization of class discussions, provide summaries of lessons, integrate student work into more accessible forum Uses: replace the standard class web page, integration of internet into courses, organization of class discussions, provide summaries of lessons, integrate student work into more accessible forum The Journal of Harriet Tubman The Journal of Harriet Tubman The Journal of Harriet Tubman The Journal of Harriet Tubman World War II World War II World War II World War II 7 th Grade Math 7 th Grade Math 7 th Grade Math 7 th Grade Math

GTRI_B-9 What is a Wiki? Literal translation…quick, quick Literal translation…quick, quick A website or similar online resource which allows users to add and edit content collectively by anyone who visits the wiki. A website or similar online resource which allows users to add and edit content collectively by anyone who visits the wiki. Wiki also refers to the collaborative software used to create such a website. Wiki also refers to the collaborative software used to create such a website. Content on a wiki is only limited by the imagination of the creator and/or people editing content. Content on a wiki is only limited by the imagination of the creator and/or people editing content.

GTRI_B-10 Wiki Resources/Options Wikipedia Wikipedia Wikipedia Wiktionary Wiktionary Wiktionary Wikibooks Wikibooks Wikibooks Wikiversity Wikiversity Wikiversity Wikispecies Wikispecies Wikispecies Wikinews Wikinews Wikinews Wikiquote Wikiquote Wikiquote Are these resources reliable?

GTRI_B-11 Why do they work…especially Wikipedia? The empowerment of ownership within the sphere of knowledge The empowerment of ownership within the sphere of knowledge Increase of democratic ideals worldwide Increase of democratic ideals worldwide The community takes care of itself The community takes care of itself The level of transparency The level of transparency Neutrality over time Neutrality over time

GTRI_B-12 Uses Within the Classroom Debate of course topics and readings Debate of course topics and readings Share resources like websites, conferences, publications, etc. Share resources like websites, conferences, publications, etc. Provide space for free expression Provide space for free expression Facilitate group projects Facilitate group projects Write a wikibook Write a wikibook Quickly and concisely disseminate course materials Quickly and concisely disseminate course materials Bonk 2007

GTRI_B-13 Wiki Farms Refers to a server or a collection of servers that provides wiki hosting, or a group of wikis hosted on such servers (Bonk) Refers to a server or a collection of servers that provides wiki hosting, or a group of wikis hosted on such servers (Bonk) For more wiki farms, go to

GTRI_B-14 Educational Wikis Uses: easy and quick websites, project development with peer review, group authoring, tracking a group project, data collection Uses: easy and quick websites, project development with peer review, group authoring, tracking a group project, data collection Flat Classroom Project Flat Classroom Project Flat Classroom Project Flat Classroom Project Jerusalem Literature Project Jerusalem Literature Project Jerusalem Literature Project Jerusalem Literature Project

GTRI_B-15 Creating your own Wiki Please refer to your handout to create your personal wiki. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance

GTRI_B-16 Questions? We are here to help! Jessica Pater Foundations for the Future