The World of Wikis and Blogs:

Interacting with Students on the Web

Larry M. Frolich, Ph.D.

Biology Department

Yavapai College

website  |  e-mail

 

 

Pikachu 1:  Unite Powers

 

Survey:  Digital Native or Digital Immigrant?                           

Please put a check by each of the following computer applications or abilities that you have used:

_____ Word processing

_____ E-mail

_____ Cut and paste text

_____ Cut and paste images

_____ Navigate a website

_____ Download files from a website

_____ Google (or other search engine)

_____ Advanced or Image Search in Google (or other search engine)

_____ Create and maintain a blog

_____ Build your own website

TOTAL = ______ /10

If score is below 6, please pair with someone with score above 6 for next activity.

9-10: Full native; 7-8: Becoming wild; 5-6: Still in the non-virtual world; 3-4: Very down to earth; 1-2: Luddite

 

banner Digital Natives

  

 

 

 

Pikachu 2:  Patience (wait for the "Wikachu")

 

What is a Wiki?  Multiple-contributor, simple-format website. 

You are looking at a Wiki--let's see how it works.

 

Wiki Brainstorm:  What would you want to post online?

With your partner, quickly brainstorm 2 or 3 ideas of something--text, questions, responses, searches, graphics--that you might want students to post online.

1.  Open Word and type your answers using 14-pt font.

2.  When ready, ask for the Wikachu (must do this one at a time)

3.  Click on the link below.  This will open a blank wiki page that you can edit by clicking "edit page"

4.  You will then be able to Copy and Paste your Brainstorm Ideas to the wiki (watch my example first):

Click here to enter Brainstorm Ideas --wait until you get the Wikachu 

5.  Don't forget disclaimer when students post to web--info is publicly available to anyone!

 

 

Pikachu 3:  Simplicity--keep it fetal (sorry non-biologists!).  Embrace change.

Wiki Farms:  An internet "host" or server that allows people to create and upload wiki websites. 

List of wiki farms--link

Seedwiki--Why most recommended wiki farm?

  • free (for basic service)
  • WYSIWYG editing
  • good and fast technical support
  • philosophy:

seedwiki embrace change

(starting your own wiki--in 60 seconds or less!)

 

Wiki Examples:

      Frolich student wikis--link

 

 

 

Pikachu 4:  Make it personal (cute?)

 

Wikis vs. Blogs

WIKIS                                   BLOGS
Multiple Contributors Usually one contributor
Blank-page format Dated Journal Format
Responses inserted anywhere Comments section for each posting
Often requires HTML (not Seedwiki) Usually is WYSIWYG editing
More common among "geeks" Major part of internet.  Often linked to online communities like MySpace, Tripod, etc.
Good host:  seedwiki Good host:  Google Blogger

Example: 

Example: 

http://weblogg-ed.com/ (blog on use of blogs in the classroom)

Past Frolich student use of blogs and wikis (link)

Video Blog:  Rocketboom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REFERENCES

Gardner, S. (2005). Time to check: Are you using the right blogging tool?  USC Annenberg Online Journalism Review.  URL:  http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050714gardner/    

Reviews and compares various online blogging tools.

 

 

Handbook for bloggers and cyber-dissidents.  Reporters Without Borders.  URL:   http://www.rsf.org/rubrique.php3?id_rubrique=542&PHPSESSID=c2485ed8ad5adcac2758517f7499e315  

Very complete reference for working with blogs.

 

 

Huffaker, D. (2004).  The educated blogger: Using weblogs to promote literacy in the classroom.  First Monday, volume 9, number 6 (June 2004), URL: http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue9_6/huffaker/index.html 

Scholarly article from peer reviewed online journal analyzing use of blogs to work on student writing and literacy.

 

 

Long, P.D. (2002).  Blogs:  A disruptive technology coming of age?  Campus Technology from Syllabus Media Group.  URL:  http://www.campus-technology.com/article.asp?id=6774&p=1 

Good quick overview of blogs and how they are being used in higher education with lots of good links and analyses of various web resources for blogging.

 

 

WebLog Kitchen,   URL: http://www.weblogkitchen.com/wiki.cgi?WelcomeVisitors  

A wiki about blogs and blogging.  This is a good site to get an idea of how a wiki works and what it does.  Tends to have good analyses and links to lots of tools for blogging, as well as wikis.

 

 

Weblogg-ed.  URL:  http://www.weblogg-ed.com/ 

Website of Will Richardson, a leading proponent of using Read/Write websites in the classroom.

 

 

Wiki Farm Resource Page. La Guardia Community College.  http://www.lagcc.cuny.edu/library/faculty/wikis.htm

Single page with resources on setting up a wiki.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

safe mode