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=//Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms//= //written by Will Richardson// =The Read /Write Web= Read chapter 1.

=**Wikis**= Read chapter 4 of **Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts** by Will Richardson

Respond to the following (related to your reading of chapter 4): 1) Purpose and/or value of wikis 2) Issue(s) related to wikis 3) Classroom application(s)

1. The value of the wiki is that it creates a community voice, everyone seeing the same draft or ideas, and having the ability to edit and add on to information. Whether the wiki is used by teachers as a collaboration of websites, it can become an interesting feature in a classroom in which students write together or collaboratively. 2. The main issue related to the wiki is that anyone can access this tool, and can edit/delete/make changes. There is a lot of controversy over wikipedia. I know I see that with students who write research papers. IT is not a bad search engine as long as they can find similar support in other resources. 3. Students can write adventure stories or narratives. You could have on-line discussions with students about a subject studied in class, everyone having the oppotunity to edit and make addtions to the space.
 * PLEASE WRITE YOUR RESPONSES HERE:

1. The value of the wiki is that it establishes a group collaboration site where information can be added and edited easily. It also gives the users responsibility and ownership of their work. 2. Two issues related to wikis are reliability of information and security. 3. Classroom applications can include class stories, shared space for brainstorming, a collection of link and creation of documents on a particular subject.

1. The value of Wiki is to be provide an opportunity to retrieve and share information on the web in a variety of contexts. It provides opptunites make public entries and make edits. 2. //Issues: A) Can you trust what you read? (p.60) B) Philosophy - copyright laws / intellectual property (p.63) C) Student usage - implications with research (p.64) D) "Wikis pose some pedagogical challenges as well." (p.65) 3. Some classroom applications for me would be: create online text from curriculum, small groups for guided reading (either pbwiki or Jotspot) and students and teachers can collaborate about a number of topics.

1. The purpose of a Wiki is to provide a platform for collaborative learning. That platform can as small as a group of four or five people or as large as the world. The potential for life-changing communication is staggering! I believe that one our goals as teachers is to develop independent thinking and learning in our students; that is become independent learners. Potentially a Wiki provides a very strong tool for this development.

2. Accuracy of Wikis is a major issue. However in Alan November's keynote at Smokey Valley H.S. on November 1, he points out that Wikipedia has only slightly more errors the Encyclopedia Britannica. The ease of editing by anyone in the group could also be an issue if the group cannot work together effectively. As long as the members of the wiki understand the information is not the final word, there is a lot of vaule.

3. A wiki would make an ideal medium for class discussions on any number of subjects. Say that you were studying the Iraq conflict; ask the question, "Were we justified in invading Iraq?" If so, why? If not, same question. In band classes students could be invited to evaluate techniques being studied, such as playing over the break on the clarinet. How difficult is it? What techniques have you used to making playing those notes easier? Who does it successfully? How do they practice the technique. There are any number of similar questions that could be asked of any section in the band.//**

1. The purpose and value of a wiki is collaboration on any topic imaginable. It can be added to and edited by a select group, or anyone.

2. Issues related to wikis would include reliability or accuracy, and security. He talks in the article about empowering students to be the monitors of the wikis to cut down on the inappropriate additons that some students might make.

3. Classroom applications could include adding to or creating new Wikijunior books on a specific topic (ex Ancient Civilizations).

1. The purpose of a Wiki is to have a way of collaborating with others. This collaboration is done in businesses and schools. It is a link for us as educators to open the door for our students to apply the use of a Wiki to help teach and give them opportunities for the future.

2. It has been discussed and debated about the reliability of the Wiki and if it is secure.

3. To use a Wiki in the classroom would be like using a Blog to discuss information being studied or researched.

1. The purpose of a wiki is to be able to share information via collaboration with all the people of the world. This is a collection of what everyone knows from around the world. The ability to have information on the wiki within a short amount of time is incredible. This information than becomes accessible to everyone connected in today's world.

2. One of the issues with the wiki is that everyone has the ability to change what is written. But, since this is a collection of information straight from people you don't see a lot of vandalism. People take pride in what they have written and other people reading it take respect in what was written. If a vandal strikes it usually only takes a couple of hours before someone corrects it and it is back to normal, which makes the vandals work futile.

3. I have thought of an idea to have my students make a wiki of there own. Each class would make a wiki of a certain topic and discussion items and then go back and update and discuss the items that are on the wiki. I can also use it as a way of getting discussion from my students, by posing a question on the class wiki site and then seeing there responses.

1. Of all the new interesting internet technologies, the wiki seems to be the one that people have the hardest time getting their mind around. Is it a blog? Is it just like a public markerboard? The value will come with time, experience, and usage for all internet users.

2. Issues would be vandalism, spreading false information, false opinions

3. Students could create their own webpage wikis. Because of the ease of getting started using the wiki pages, students wouldn't have to grapple with html language and other web page creation issues.

2. Two issues that I worry about with wikis is their reliability of information and security. 3. Classroom applications can include a safe harbor for brainstorming, and a group of links and creation of documents on a particular subject for class projects.
 * 1. Wiki's value definately lies in its ability to foster collaboration among people who do not nessessarily have to be in the same room with one another. Everyone can contribute and share work at any time in any place.

1. The purpose of wikis is to share information across the world in seconds. 2. My largest issue is the reliability of information. 3. Student would love to add information to a wiki and then be able to go on the world wide web and see their input :)**