Wikis

For collecting your work as a participant in Arts Educator 2.0, we would like you to create and utilize a wiki as a "digital portfolio". Below are resources on wikis which we will use to work you through the process of getting started. You are welcome to differentiate for yourself and train independently with the resources below. toc
 * Wiki Training**

=Introduction=

What are wikis?
Wikis are collaborative "[|Web 2.0]" (the read & write web) tools. They look and feel like a webpage, and have many of the same features. The main difference between wikis and traditional webpages is that many people can collaborate on a wiki - think [|Wikipedia]. TeachersFirst has also created a nice "[|Wiki Walkthrough]" explanation website that allows you to explore educational uses of wikis at your own pace.

Watch this short video by Common Craft to see an illustration of what wikis can do.

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"At its core, a wiki is a Web site that is fully editable from a Web browser. If you have that, you have a wiki; if you don't, you don't. This means that you must be able to add, edit, and delete pages, text, and hyperlinks right from your Web browser; no messy HTML, JavaScript, or FTP programs required. The wiki shares all of the non-linear affordances of standard Web sites. In this way, it is distinguishable from other types of social software, such as blogs, which are designed around the post, a timely entry that appears linearly, in reverse chronological order. " - Source: [|CampusTechnology.com] =Rationale= Here are links to some of today's top educational technologists talking about wikis, why use them, etc: [|Steve Hargadon's] [|EdTechLive] interview on 8/24/06 with [|Victoria Davis] and Adam Frey. Here is a great article from a PA educator talking about how wikis "[|Saved Her Career]."

Who uses wikis?

 * [|businesses]
 * [|education] ([|higher education], administrators, teachers, students, parents, etc...)
 * individuals
 * after today.... YOU do!

How are wikis used in education?

 * as a way to gather and share research information (e.g. class research projects)
 * as a tool for global collaboration (e.g. The Flat Classroom Project)
 * to organize and disseminate information (e.g. an interactive classroom webpage)
 * to teach classes or workshops
 * to organize professional work or professional development

Why use one?

 * a wiki allows you to gather resources on the fly, post them, and share with others
 * they allow you to collaborate with colleagues
 * they require no memory space to store your most needed documents and resources
 * they can be edited anytime, anywhere you have an Internet connection (no software is needed)
 * they allow you to add in "[|widgets]" which add visual or audio impact to your work (e.g. calendars, videos, maps, etc.)
 * Things to keep in mind...
 * Take your time before rolling out your wiki
 * Have a focus (how will you use it... it may change over time)
 * Have fun and be creative with your wiki
 * Don't make your wiki into just one more task you have to do - make your wiki work for you!

What tools are available?

 * **Wikispaces** http://www.wikispaces.com/
 * **PBWiki** [|https://pbwiki.com]
 * **WetPaint** http://www.wetpaint.com/
 * **Compare them ALL side by side!** http://www.wikimatrix.org/

=Your Tasks=

ArtsEducator 2.0 Wiki
The purpose of our ArtsEducator 2.0 wiki is to create a community of practice among arts educators. What does that mean? How can you participate?
 * Join the wiki - click on "join"
 * Pick a username that you will use when you login in future
 * Choose a password
 * Enter your email address
 * Make a Space? No
 * Join
 * Come back to the ArtsEducator2.0 wikispace and click join again

You'll now be able to edit the wiki, add to it, change it, etc. You'll also be able to use the discussion tabs on the various pages. Click on our wiki Sandbox to try out editing a page. You can also try editing the book discussion page and can use the tab for conversations about readings.

Creating Your Own Wiki
Here's a great video tutorial by Mr.Sal on how to set up a wikispaces wiki: media type="custom" key="2981344"

Today we will set up a free space with wikispaces. Follow the link below: http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers100K

1. Pick a username that you will use when you login in future 2. Choose a password 3. Enter your email address 4. Make a Space? Yes 5. Choose a name for your wikispace (for your Arts Educator 2.0 "portfolio" we suggest you use your first and last name) 6. Select visibility option - (Public or Protected or Private) – //we suggest protected//, you can change this later if you need to 7. Certify that the space is for educational use by clicking the box 8. Finally – click on Join

We'd like you have at least 4 pages on your wiki: "About Me," "PPDP," "Unit Plan," "Grant Proposal". Use the "new page" tab to create each. //You may submit your Unit Plan homework from Webinar 1 by pasting/typing your Rich and Compelling Content, Big Idea, Essential Question(s,) and Summative Task on your Unit Plan page.//

Now click on edit and try adding some content to your page.We'll explore as many of the features of wikis as possible, including:


 * fonts, font size, font colors, headings, numbering, and bullets
 * inserting hyper links and links to other pages
 * uploading and inserting pictures and files
 * media type="custom" key="2981390"
 * embedding widgets (these are the coolest!)
 * space management (look and feel, inviting membership, tracking users, reverting to older versions, etc.)

Or to differentiate for yourself, go to the [|Wikispaces tour], "WikiWhileYouWork" (created by Kristen Hoanson), Jim Gate's Wikipage, or Wikispaces wiki help area for instructions on how to set up your own wiki. Here is a nice [|rubric to help you self-evaluate your wiki].

Final Task
Please copy the URL of your new wiki, and paste it in to the Arts Educator 2.0 wiki on the "participants" page.

=For Fun=

How can I make my wiki look better?
There are many features in wikis which can be utilized to change the aesthetic appearance of your wiki. While not a requirement, tricking out your wiki can be fun. Below are resources to help you personalize your wikispace.

Basic Look & Feel

 * Changing the space's background color
 * Changing the space logo
 * GettingTrickyWithWikis - wikispace on tricking out your wiki!

Adding Widgets
Widgets are the neat "tools and gizmos" you see on wikis - things like YouTube movies, GoogleCalendars, Slideshow viewiers or photo galleries. They are outside programs which are embeddable into your wiki. Simply - you grab the code, paste it into your wiki, and voila, the widget shows up once you hit save. To see some examples and step by step guides, try the links below

Kristen Hokanson has some great examples of widgets you can add: http://umwikiworkshop.wikispaces.com/Wiki_wows Here are wikispaces directions on embedding media and HTML codes: http://www.wikispaces.com/help#toc30 Go2Web20 - a great place to find the latest widgets for your wiki: http://www.go2web20.net/