RELAX. It's not that bad. Really.
Welcome to Wikis and Weblogs, a little course designed for YOU (yes, you!) to understand what these tools are and how they can be used in your classroom. Below is an outline, a path, a route you can follow to begin understanding the power behind wikis and blogs.
By the way...you're reading a blog RIGHT NOW! Good job.
- What is a wiki? What is a blog?
http://www2.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/
Wikis are web spaces that allow users to collaborate in creating content online. Read the above article to get a better understanding of how they can be used in education.
http://www.slideshare.net/mizmercer/webed-20/1
A blog is a web space that allows a user to post his or her thoughts, sort of like an online diary. However, better than that, it allows other users to post comments and opinions. It also has a RSS Feed (Really Simple Syndication) which allows people to subscribe to a blog and receive updates when it is changed. This way, you don't have to go back and check for updates, new posts, and information--the blog tells you when it has something for you to read! View the above presentation online to see more. - How are people using them?
English: http://terrythetennisball.wikispaces.com/
Social Studies: http://hetherington0607.learnerblogs.org/ - Safety and Security
The problem of Wikipedia: Wikipedia is getting a bad rep. Read this article to see a little bit more about why your students should be wary of gleaning information ONLY from a wiki.
Protecting students online: You must make sure to teach your students the rules of the road for being on the Internet. This includes not posting personally identifiable information such as last names and phone numbers. Visit this site for additional information on web safety tips for students; alternately, here's one for all of us! - How do I get started?
http://www2.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/
http://pbwiki.com/
http://www.blogger.com/start
http://edublogs.org/
