What's In a Wiki?

Hang Ten Dude!

The word “wiki” arrives on the Internet shoreline riding a surfboard, fresh off a huge swell in the Pacific Ocean.  Wiki has come all the way from Hawaii, where its origins are alliterative and mean “quick”. He joins the ranks of others in the land of Internet vocabulary such as podcast and blog.

Wikis are basically web pages that can be accessed and edited by many users at once in real time. It is especially popular because users do not have to download any software or learn a new program-they only need an Internet connection and a web browser.

While wikis can make communication and collaboration easier for some users, this type of open editing can pose harm. For instance, users can accidentally delete content or a random user can change information on a wiki at any time. Certain safety features such as making a wiki public, but not editable for everyone, is a step that can ensure the security and authority of the wiki.

Educational Uses/Media Center Uses

Even though wikis have been available since the mid-1990s, they have not been in the educational spotlight for many years. In their initial creation, wikis were more catered to business meeting agendas and minutes, presentations, etc. However, considering the origins of the wiki, it is hard to keep the island out of the ol’ island boy, and soon more casual uses for wikis were being implemented.

Students can complete group projects using wikis as it promotes equal collaboration efforts on each student’s part. Teachers can easily access the wiki at any point to give feedback instantly, evaluate for understanding, and assess informally. I can see where creating wikis, much like creating podcasts or blogs, can actually motivate students to really focus on their work because it seems so much more “public” than simply turning in a piece of paper only a teacher will read. By requiring “wiki work” in a classroom setting, students will be exposed to the skills necessary to be successful in the world of technology and the Internet.

The media center should serve as the technical hub in any school, and a media center wiki is the appropriate vehicle to provide easy access to students, teachers, parents, etc. Media center wikis such as the Apalachee High School Media Center’s Wiki allows users to browse several links pertaining to the services provided via the media center such as GALILEO, World Cat, GA Pines, etc. One feature I found to be particularly interesting was the Title Shots bar on the left side of the wiki which showcases a few books from the library’s collection. It is powered by Library Thing and would encourage students to click on a book to explore it further then go check it out.  Students and teachers are also invited to join the wiki and add helpful links or showcase great work.

Coming Soon: Literary Circles for Macbeth

I have created a handful of wikis over the last year or so, but I have never thought about how to utilize them in my classroom. However, after reading about the educational uses of wikis, I had an epiphany. My current English Literature Honors classes are reading Macbeth and employing the use of literary circles. It has been a chore getting all of their notes together and making copies for distribution, let alone disheartening to see when one group member does not hold up his or her end of the bargain (as is with all group work settings). So, I am going to translate their work in literary circles to a wiki format. I will update my post in a few days to reflect on this change. Wish me luck!


Update on Literary Circles:
Overall, the students were surprised at how easy Wikispaces and the concept of a wiki was to grasp. I was met with a lot of grumbles at first, but it turned out rather well considering this was an idea I sprung on them kind of last minute. There were a couple of students who did not quite understand how to join a wiki that was already created by their group, but I'll just call that a learning curve. All in all this is an assignment I want to try again in the future.

Podcasting in Schools

There are a number of ways that podcasting can be used in schools in both classrooms and the media center.  Many media specialists, teachers, students, book authors, and others involved in the education of children have created podcasts that are readily available online.  A quick Google search yields a number of these podcasts that students would find enjoyable and beneficial to listen to.  Teachers, media specialists, and students can locate podcasts related to topics that are studied by in the classroom, children’s books they may want to read, news from their favorite authors, among many other subjects.  Students are able to listen to the podcasts online or even download them to their computer, ipod, cell phone, or other electronic device.

The use of podcasting in schools does not stop with listening to those that are already created.  Podcasts are actually very easy to make and can serve a wide variety of purposes in the school setting.  All you need is a computer or other electronic device capable of recording audio, free computer software for recoding such as Audacity, and a microphone. 

One way that media specialists can use podcasting in the media center is to record booktalks that can easily be archived and accessed by students.  Nancy Keane has a wonderful site were she has stored many short book talks she has created.  The booktalks serve as a method for hooking students into books.  Recording booktalks in a podcast provides as way for the booktalks to be kept for years and allows students access to booktalks they may not have been present to hear at the live recording.

The media specialist can also use podcasts to share news in the media center.  They can be used to announce upcoming events, promote author visits, share new technology and materials, or even as a way to review rules and procedures.  Short reminders or lessons related information literacy may also be delivered through podcasts.  With permission of the speaker(s), live events can be recorded and posted for those who were unable to attend.   Media specilaists may even choose to deliver some professional development through the use of podcasts so that teachers can review it on their own time and as often as needed.

Students can also create their own podcasts in school.  The students at Willowdale Elementary School have created a variety of podcasts on many different topics, which are archived on their site, Radio WillowWeb.  Each episode has a specific theme and within that theme students have shared pieces such as new vocabulary words, poetry, fun facts, as well as jokes and riddles.  Students can use podcasts in a number of different ways such as sharing what they have learned in the classroom, teaching other students how to complete a task, creating their own book talks or reviews, presenting their writing, and announcing school news.

I do have some personal experience with podcasting in schools.  While completing my student teaching back in 2006, I created a Social Studies Unit for fourth graders on Westward Expansion.  One of the projects that I assigned the students was to create a radio show as though they were broadcasting from the trail as they made their way out west as pioneers.  The students reported on topics such as what they were eating, how their family was doing, as well as their struggles and successes.   They based their stories on accounts of real pioneers.  The students created podcasts for each episode.  The Social Studies Professor at Furman University that I was working with at the time, as well as another teacher and I co-wrote an article about our experience with this project, which was published in Social Education in 2007.  I have since used this project as a base and created similar projects in the classroom.  I can attest to the excitement students demonstrate when creating a podcast and the great value in such a project.  When creating podcasts, it has been my experience that students have a stronger desire to revise their work and to get it just right before podcasting than they would if they were just turning in a piece of writing to their teacher.  It gives them motivation to create their best work and provides them with an audience outside the walls of their classroom or even their school.

Podcasting – Use in School Library Media Centers

How can Podcasts be used in School Library Media Centers?

What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are online audio files recorded on a computer that can be played on any MP3 device.   The term is derived from combining the terms broadcast and IPOD.  IPOD was chosen due to the popularity of the IPOD device.  The term broadcast refers to the existence of online radio.  Hence the terminology of “podcast” was created.

What is a Booktalk?

Booktalks can be compared to movie trailers.  Movie trailers are used in a video form to stir interest about a movie.  Booktalks alike can be developed to inform prospective readers about book titles that they may not learn about otherwise.  Booktalks are a great motivational tool for Media Specialist and are frequently used to with reluctant readers.  They can be used to entice and to “tease” a reader into picking up new titles. 

PODCASTS and Booktalks

Traditional booktalks or booktalks of the past may have been done in the presence of a small group of students where just a few students may have been witness to the advertising form created by the media specialist.  Those few students may pick up the title and actually have enough interest and desire to read the book.  Eventually that booktalk is forgotten from the mind of those few students and the interest if that book or series of books is seemingly forever gone but does it really have to be “gone”?   With the creation of podcast booktalks can be recorded, saved to an online application and used over and over again.  Podcast could easily be accessed by teachers from the classroom and allow students to related books to lesson materials without actually leaving the classroom.  Students can create their own podcasts to discuss the books that they are reading or have read.    Media specialist can collaborate with classroom teachers to have their students create their own podcast to share booktalks.  Many students may be more enticed to pick up a title if a peer shares their interest than when another adult provides the same information.

For more information on podcats, please visit the following websites. http://lis5313.ci.fsu.edu/wiki/index.php/Podcasts_and_Booktalks%2C_a_Match_Made_in_a_School_Media_Center

http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/Audio+%26+Podcasting

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Team 7, MEDT 7477, Fall 2012: Based on the student numbers and schedules, do your original blog posts here.
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