Wikis

**What is a Wiki and Why Should I Use One?**
====Wiki means "fast" in Hawaiian and to put it simply, a wiki is a fast and simple Web site creation tool. Wikis allow visitors to contribute and modify content which makes them a powerful social networking tool. If you have accessed Wikipedia for quick information, you have used a wiki. Unfortunately, Wikipedia is often discounted in academic circles because it can be editity by anyone in the world. This worries people that the information source is now subject to potential misinformation and vandalism. However, as far as editing goes, you can keep the wiki set for only the members of your classroom to have editing permission, and you can keep a close eye on all edits through the history tab at the top of each page. In this way, you will have a record of every person who performed any editing on the site. As an educational tool, wikis offer an easy alternative for connection and collaboration that has amazing potential both in the classroom and beyond the school day.====

Take a moment to watch this brief Common Craft video "Wikis in Plain English" to learn about wiki basics:
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Wikispaces.com offers advertisement free wiksipaces for K-12 educators. Click here to create a wikispace of your own.
Click here to view the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through site. Here you will find some ideas to get you started on using a wiki in your classroom.