WIKIS AND PODCASTING IN OUR CLASSROOMS

Rosebud Cluster Day 29 Jan 2010

Workshop Format

Part 1 – Introduction to web 2.0, podcasts and wikis (20mins)Part 2 – Examples (20mins)Part 3 – Podcast Creation, Wiki creation and sandbox time (40 mins)

Introduction to web 2.0, podcasts and wikis

What is Web 2.0?

The ‘read/write’ web (Think two way)Users come together and create their own contentBased on participation and open communicationInformation is controlled by many not by individualsUsers add value as their needs evolveUser friendly interfacesEverything is connected dynamically

Wikis and podcasts – What are they?

Wikis – A page or collection of pages which allows a group of people to create and edit content (depending on permissions) without specific technical knowledge(wikis in plain english – Common Craft)“wiki wiki” = Hawaiian for quick or fast Podcasts - A combination of the words iPod and broadcast– A series of audio or video media files that are distributed over the Internet

Intro to Podcasts

Characteristics of Podcasts

People can subscribe selectively to video or audio castsCan be played back at a time that suits the userCan be played on portable devicesTypes of podcasts:• Basic podcast – contains only audio • Enhanced podcast – has both audio, images, slides, embedded URLS, and

chapters• Vodcast (or video podcast) – contains video and audio and is most difficult

to create

Podcasts allow people to listen to what they want, when they want, andwhere they want

Benefits of PodcastsExciting new way to generate creative expressionEnhance the learning processAssists students to better visualise a specific topicEngages and motivates studentsStudent-created podcasts can be subscribed to and viewed by parents and the communityStudents/staff can listen when and where they want, at their own pace, in a relaxed environmentCan be viewed on any computer, an iPod or a TV

Where can I access podcasts?

Itunes storehttp://www.apple.com/itunes/storeCan listen through websites:http://bbc.co.uk/radiohttp://www.podcastalley.com/

Where do I start?Hardware- Microphone/audio recorder- ComputerSoftware (Audacity)http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about- basic audio recording- sound effects- it’s freePurpose- as a way to deliver content to your students- as a means to showcase your students ‘workSomewhere to host the podcast-wiki- itunes

Lesson Ideas for Podcasts

Weekly classroom new broadcastDocument a field tripRecord a class discussionShare book reviewsConduct interviewsReview curricular contentReader recording for buddy system

http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/create.html

Podcast Lesson SupportEducation Podcast Networkhttp://epnweb.org/Resourcing the Curriculum – podcasting in the classroomhttp://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/podcasts/Podcasting in the classroomhttp://userwww.sfsu.edu/~nshelley/index.htmlRubric: Podcasting Projecthttp://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/podcastrubric.htmlA short video explaining podcastinghttp://www.commoncraft.com/podcasting

Intro to wikis

Guidelines for Exploration

Ensure information is meaningful and relevantSummarise and hyperlinkRead the wiki and ask “what do I not understand about this topic?”Answer that question and post findingsDo not delete information posted by others unless it is redundant or you are editing for improvement

Wiki AssessmentEnsure criteria is explicit and accessible from the beginning of a projectEncourage students to have input to the assessment criteriaUse multiple forms of assessment including group, peer and self assessmentPossible Criteria:

Collaborative EffortVisual AppealOrganisationHyperlinksOriginal, intelligent wordingSpelling, grammar and punctuationCompletion of Topic Assignment

Characteristics of Wikis

Users and readers (depending on permissions) are able to edit or create any page (wikis)Promote meaningful topic associations between different pages by using linksAimed to involve the users and readers in an ongoing process of creation and collaboration that constantly evolves

Features of Wikis

Easy to useCan be used any time, any whereKeep track of revision history and who has made changesCan be set to be public or privateAre constantly under constructionCollaboration is key

Benefits of Wikis• Connection; connection and

communication with others, engage the community

• Networking; Audience, Create connections, developing links/networks with others, readers in the wider world

• Participation; Motivation through provision or opportunities to read and write

• Anytime/Anywhere• Ownership – students own their

learning experience• By and for teachers; Provide

tips for other teachers, reflect on practice, share ideas, explore important issues in the profession

ClassroomInstruction

StudentCreatedOnline

Content

CooperativeLearning

TeacherCreatedOnline

ContentWiki

(Vicki Davis 2006)

Benefits for Students

Can contribute anytime, anywhereDevelop collaborative skillsDevelop skills in negotiation and organizationDevelop critical writing skillsDevelop sense of responsibility and ownership

Benefit for TeachersEngage students with use of new technologyEasily track student submissionsIncrease student accountability in a groupCreate and maintain space easilyFoster a sense of community within the classroom

Blogs vs Wikis

Wikis – use for facts Blogs – use for opinions

Wiki BlogsNo one owns content Individuals own their

postNo linear organisation (hyperlinks)

Chronological order(Newest posts at top)

Anyone can edit other peoples work (Depending on permissions set)

Only author can edit their own work – others can comment

Perpetual work in progress

Posts are permanent

Good for collaborative group work

Good for disseminating info/ starting discussions

□ Active LearningCreating, adding to, and modifying content in a wiki moves students up into the higher order thinking skills of Bloom’s revised taxonomy (Churches, 2008)

Why?

ConcernsWiki “vandalism”Student privacy issues for public wikisNo concurrent editing of a pageCombating “copy and paste”Limited access to computers can be a deterrent

Wiki Best PracticeCreate a culture of trust

Set up wiki rules

Assign meaningful, authentic activities

Provide instructions and allow for practice

See a sample wiki agreement at :- http://wikicentral.wikispaces.com/file/view/mrsmaines+wiki+warranty.doc

Wiki Examples

Examples

Classroom CommunitiesGlobal CommunitiesProfessional Communities

Possible Network wiki purposes:

Meeting PlanningCurriculum DevelopmentProfessional DevelopmentTeam or Department CollaborationProfessional Learning Communities

-See Wikis in Education at Wetpaint for specific examples: http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/page/Teacher+Peer+Wikis

Possible School Wiki purposes:

Decrease Disruptions of Instructional Time Posting of daily notices; Announcements and Reminders by Department, Staff Attendance, Out at PD / Visitors, Staff Recognizing Staff, Other Stuff: Notes also may contain surveys and/or forms for teachers to complete, readings, or other important news and notes of the day. Schedules (teacher, bell, meetings, etc) – allows staff member can locate their colleagues at anytime.

Make Meetings More Efficient team norms and activities meeting notes, agendas, documents, and materials. discussion board where conversations can continue.

Collaborate On Important Documents - creation, revising, and updating of school documents such as strategic plans, AIPs, and Year level unit plans and the discussion tab allows for ongoing conversation while the documents are being created. Enhance Professional Development Upcoming opportunities PD materials and resources can be loaded to the wiki. Share and Collaborate On Curriculum MapsLink curriculum maps to all materials and important documents required for each piece of the map. This also allows for planning across grades and department since all information is transparently posted. Save Trees and Time A Portal for All Your LessonsFor multiple teachers teaching the same subject/unit of study lessons can be posted right on the wiki. Staff can collaborate remotely in their own time.

Possible Classroom wiki purposes:

Post class informationWhole class/ Group based projectsBrainstormingLesson SummariesNotes Collaboration (students create collaborative study notes)Concept Intro and ExplorationSharing Learning and resourcesIndividual AssessmentsPeer or teacher writing reviewRewards – hall of fame, honourable mention – ensure you include grading rubricReflection/feedback/discussion

Some Specific Classroom wiki ideas:

Create an animal alphabet wikiCreate a spelling wiki that could become a virtual word wall.Collaboration on any group projectFor a grammar lesson, have the students edit a paragraph inserting all punctuation and capitalization.Build a story by having each student add to the existing story line.Build a wiki about the seven continents. After reviewing, each continent ask students to post two facts about what they have learned.Have students write a daily reflection(What about wikis, 2007-2009)- See TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for many other specific ideas: http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikiideas1.cfm

Wiki and Podcast Creation and sandbox time

Where can I start my wiki?

Wikispaceshttp://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers

PBworkshttp://pbworks.com/academic.wiki

Wetpainthttp://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/

Failing to plan is planning to fail!

Wiki Address:

HomeHome Page description:Splash page. Welcome to our

wiki. Purpose of the wiki, intended audience, intended

use....

Page 2Page 2 Description:

Page 3Page 3 Description:

Site Structure

Essential Skills

PermissionsEditing – public/members only/ administrators onlyViewing – public/members only(private)Navigating Tabs

Page historyDiscussionsNotifications

Look and FeelEditing PagesInviting users – bulk user creation

Drawbacks and work around tips

No facility for concurrent editing. ie students editing at the same time – last save overwritesWork around tips

Make small edits and save regularlyCommunicate (with partner/group), leave messages in discussionUse the History –recover overwritten informationDiscuss – articles on main page, discussions on discussion pageRefresh before writing - to ensure partners changes are not lost

Projects can become unwieldy and students may loose direction

supply a structured system of expectations, and due datesEnsure students receive a constant flow of feedbackBuild in time for students to meet during class to negotiate meaning in the planning and revision stagesEnsure assessment criteria is explicit and easily accessible to students from project beginning

Network Wiki examples

http://peninsulaictnetwork/wikispaces.comhttp://icttoolkit/wikispaces.comhttp://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikiideas1.cfmhttp://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikishttp://www.slideshare.net/brumsted/introduction-to-wikishttp://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/turbo-charged-wikis-technology-embraces-cooperative-learninghttp://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/turbo-charged-wikis-technology-embraces-cooperative-learning

□ Example of a Global Wiki-For additional information see:http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/

Flat Classroom ProjectConnects students from around

the world to analyze the 10 societal trends from The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman.Students were paired with a global partner to use a joint wiki to describe, give viewpoints, and create a video about their societal trend.(Lindsay and Davis, 2007)

Further Resources

http://teacherportal.wikispaces.comNZ Cluster wiki for teacher collaborationhttp://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Individual teacher wiki set up to share ideashttp://carbonfighters.pbworks.com/For+Teachers

Classroom Project based wikihttp://blogswikisdocs.wikispaces.com/Discusses blogs and wikis and when each is appropriate

Further ResourcesPodsafe music- http://www.podsafeaudio.com- http://music.podshow.com/- http://www.jamendo.com/- http://www.freesound.org/Examples- http://www.carrumpods.com/- http://www.sandiagprimary.co.uk/radio_sandiag/index.php- http://biologyoracle.podomatic.com/- http://www.vcehelp.com.au/category/podcasts-video/More Info- http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/podcasts/

- http://www.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/

Finally a question to keep in mind...

How can we engage with students’ learning more meaningfully and personally – that is, in ways that hook into their

everyday experiences and that build on their current knowledge

using technology?