Wikis and Podcasting in our classrooms

1. Wikis and Podcasting in our classrooms Rosebud Cluster Day 29 Jan 2010

2. 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)

3. Introduction to web 2.0, podcasts and wikis

4. What is Web 2.0? The ‘read/write’ web (Think two way) Users come together and create their own content Based on participation and open communication Information is controlled by many not by individuals Users add value as their needs evolve User friendly interfaces Everything is connected dynamically

5. 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

6. Intro to Podcasts

7. Characteristics of Podcasts • People can subscribe selectively to video or audio casts • Can be played back at a time that suits the user • Can be played on portable devices • Types 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

8. Benefits of Podcasts Exciting new way to generate creative expression Enhance the learning process Assists students to better visualise a specific topic Engages and motivates students Student-created podcasts can be subscribed to and viewed by parents and the community Students/staff can listen when and where they want, at their own pace, in a relaxed environment Can be viewed on any computer, an iPod or a TV

9. Where can I access podcasts? Itunes storehttp://www.apple.com/itunes/store Can listen through websites:http://bbc.co.uk/radiohttp://www.podcastalley.com/

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

11. Lesson Ideas for Podcasts Weekly classroom new broadcast Document a field trip Record a class discussion Share book reviews Conduct interviews Review curricular content Reader recording for buddy system http://www.learninginhand.com/podcasting/create.html

12. Podcast Lesson Support Education 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.html Rubric: Podcasting Projecthttp://www.uwstout.edu/soe/profdev/podcastrubric.html A short video explaining podcastinghttp://www.commoncraft.com/podcasting

13. Intro to wikis

14. Guidelines for Exploration Ensure information is meaningful and relevant Summarise and hyperlink Read the wiki and ask “what do I not understand about this topic?”Answer that question and post findings Do not delete information posted by others unless it is redundant or you are editing for improvement

15. Wiki Assessment • Ensure criteria is explicit and accessible from the beginning of a project • Encourage students to have input to the assessment criteria • Use multiple forms of assessment including group, peer and self assessment • Possible Criteria: • Collaborative Effort • Visual Appeal • Organisation • Hyperlinks • Original, intelligent wording • Spelling, grammar and punctuation • Completion of Topic Assignment

16. 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 links Aimed to involve the users and readers in an ongoing process of creation and collaboration that constantly evolves

17. Features of Wikis Easy to use Can be used any time, any where Keep track of revision history and who has made changes Can be set to be public or private Are constantly under construction Collaboration is key

18. Benefits of Wikis Classroom Instruction Teacher Created Online Content Student Created Online Content Wiki Cooperative Learning (Vicki Davis 2006) • 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

19. Benefits for Students • Can contribute anytime, anywhere • Develop collaborative skills • Develop skills in negotiation and organization • Develop critical writing skills • Develop sense of responsibility and ownership

20. Benefit for Teachers • Engage students with use of new technology • Easily track student submissions • Increase student accountability in a group • Create and maintain space easily • Foster a sense of community within the classroom

21. Blogs vs Wikis Wikis – use for facts Blogs – use for opinions

22. Why? • Active Learning Creating, adding to, and modifying content in a wiki moves students up into the higher order thinking skills of Bloom’s revised taxonomy (Churches, 2008)

23. Concerns • Wiki “vandalism” • Student privacy issues for public wikis • No concurrent editing of a page • Combating “copy and paste” • Limited access to computers can be a deterrent

24. Wiki Best Practice • See a sample wiki agreement at : • http://wikicentral.wikispaces.com/file/view/mrsmaines+wiki+warranty.doc • Create a culture of trust • Set up wiki rules • Assign meaningful, authentic activities • Provide instructions and allow for practice

25. Wiki Examples

26. Examples Classroom Communities Global Communities Professional Communities

27. Possible Network wiki purposes: • See Wikis in Education at Wetpaint for specific examples: http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/page/Teacher+Peer+Wikis Meeting Planning Curriculum Development Professional Development Team or Department Collaboration Professional Learning Communities

28. 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.

29. Possible Classroom wiki purposes: Post class information Whole class/ Group based projects Brainstorming Lesson Summaries Notes Collaboration (students create collaborative study notes) Concept Intro and Exploration Sharing Learning and resources Individual Assessments Peer or teacher writing review Rewards – hall of fame, honourable mention – ensure you include grading rubric Reflection/feedback/discussion

30. Some Specific Classroom wiki ideas: • (What about wikis, 2007-2009) - See TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through for many other specific ideas: http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikiideas1.cfm Create an animal alphabet wiki Create a spelling wiki that could become a virtual word wall. Collaboration on any group project For 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

31. Wiki and Podcast Creation and sandbox time

32. Where can I start my wiki? • Wikispaces • http://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers • PBworks • http://pbworks.com/academic.wiki • Wetpaint • http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/

33. Failing to plan is planning to fail! Site Structure

35. Essential Skills • PermissionsEditing – public/members only/ administrators onlyViewing – public/members only(private) • Navigating Tabs • Page history • Discussions • Notifications • Look and Feel • Editing Pages • Inviting users – bulk user creation

36. 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 regularly • Communicate (with partner/group), leave messages in discussion • Use the History –recover overwritten information • Discuss – articles on main page, discussions on discussion page • Refresh 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 dates • Ensure students receive a constant flow of feedback • Build in time for students to meet during class to negotiate meaning in the planning and revision stages • Ensure assessment criteria is explicit and easily accessible to students from project beginning

37. Network Wiki examples http://peninsulaictnetwork/wikispaces.com http://icttoolkit/wikispaces.com http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/wikiideas1.cfm http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com/Examples+of+educational+wikis http://www.slideshare.net/brumsted/introduction-to-wikis http://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/turbo-charged-wikis-technology-embraces-cooperative-learning http://www.academiccommons.org/commons/essay/turbo-charged-wikis-technology-embraces-cooperative-learning

38. Flat Classroom Project • Connects 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) • Example of a Global Wiki • For additional information see: • http://www.flatclassroomproject.org/

39. Further Resources http://teacherportal.wikispaces.comNZ Cluster wiki for teacher collaboration http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Individual teacher wiki set up to share ideas http://carbonfighters.pbworks.com/For+TeachersClassroom Project based wiki http://blogswikisdocs.wikispaces.com/Discusses blogs and wikis and when each is appropriate

40. Further Resources Podsafe 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/

41. 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?