All About Wikis

The more we explore and practice with wikis, the more I want to learn about them. Wikipedia is referred to as the "sum of human knowledge." A wiki is a website where users can collaborate, contribute, and edit in a quick and easy way. Wikis are not only a source to find information, they allow people with common interests and hobbies to communicate and collaborate as well. As we continue to add to our online encyclopedia as a cohort, I am beginning to understand more about the benefits that wikis provide.

When we first were introduced to wikis I was quite hesitant to even consider using them in my classroom, but the more we work together on our ITSOPEDIA15 site; the potential for classroom use appears more and more valuable. I began to think of how to use wikis in my third grade classroom, and many ideas started coming to mind…book reviews, story problems, debates, and many more! The first source I turned to naturally was Pinterest. Pinterest provides many great resources and ideas on the "Wiki Tips for the Classroom" page.

I want to begin using wikis with my students, but I do want to explore with the various wiki sites available. Is there one site that is more reliable than another site? I am in the beginning stages of learning more and jotting notes down for various design ideas and implementation ideas. How will I make the integration of wikis in my classroom suitable for my 21st century students? I can't wait to see how my students collaborate, participate, and interact with others not only in our classroom, but around the world!