Using PBworks in the Classroom/Library What is a wiki? Wiki means quick or fast in Hawaiian A wiki is a web site that lets any visitor become a participant: you can create or edit the actual site contents without any special technical knowledge or tools. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection. A wiki is continuously under revision. It is a living collaboration whose purpose is the sharing of the creative process and product by many. One famous example is Wiki-pedia, an online encyclopedia with no authors but millions of contributors and editors. The word "wiki" comes from Hawaiian language, meaning "quick" or "fast." (From: http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/) How to use a wiki for your classroom/library What can you do with a Classroom Workspace? Class Resources - Publish class notes, PowerPoint lectures, schedules and policies; show off examples of great student work. Group Projects - Build collaborative pages, start discussions and encourage comments. Parent Outreach - Keep parents involved. Post assignments, key dates and volunteer lists. All available at home, from work, or anywhere. Student Portfolios - Give students their own page to post content, upload homework, and share their work. Expand Horizons - Share and interact with other classrooms or groups, across town or around the world. (From: http://pbworks.com/using-pbworks-individual-classrooms) How can you use PBworks in your library? Patron Service - Publish information about new acquisitions. Post library hours and policies. Publicize events such as author visits and reading groups. Procedures - Use PBworks to outline procedures for daily tasks, processing materials, sending out overdue notices, and giving out library cards. Staff Coordination - Link a busy staff of professionals and volunteers into an online team. Publish agendas and meeting notes. Launch and track projects. Coordinate schedules and coverage hours. Technology - Record past problems and solutions with your ILS software, subscription databases, catalog imports, etc. so that if a problem resurfaces in the future, it will be easy to find the solution. (From: http://pbworks.com/librarians) Using a wiki across the district Collaborate across libraries Share resources, lesson plans, and activities in the library Create online book clubs with students across different schools
Layout and Getting to Know the Wiki 1) Front Page (home page for your wiki) 2) Top Tool Bar What you can do Wiki (back to Front Page) Pages and Files (view all pages and uploaded files) Users (add users who don t have email addresses good for students) Settings (change colors, add logo, see activity)
3) Right Tool Bars What you can do Search the workspace Create a page Upload files Share/Copy SideBar (always available on the page good place for anything you want to always be seen on screen) Navigator (accesses all pages and files) Share this workspace (add new writer) Recent Activity (any updates made to pages is listed here)
How to 1) Create a page Click on Create page (right tool bar) Create blank page OR Templates Activity tracking Assignments Course Meeting Agenda Syllabus Change font size, color, etc Add a link Insert table, images, etc (URL or wiki page) Page tools allows you to easily link to pages within your wiki or add files to your page. Page tools appears on the right when you are editing a page. When editing is complete, SAVE work (at bottom of page) 2) Edit a page (tools are same as above)
3) Create a link to an outside URL address OR a page/file within your wiki a) Can add a link as is (entire url address) Have cursor where you want to enter link, click Add Link, paste url into box, click enter key OR Link to a page/file within your wiki by clicking on Browse Pages and Files b) Can highlight a word within your text and link that to a URL or page 4) Upload files 1. Click on upload files (right tool bar) 2. Select appropriate file on your computer 5) Create a PDF version of your page (create a PDF document of your website) *Perfect if you want to post your information and give it out to students as a hand out* 6) Adding Users to your site Add email addresses of users (give permission/access levels)
7) Settings Change the colors of your space (background) Add a logo to the top of your page Export a zip file of your wiki Workspace Security (only available through paid subscription) Notifications email you notifications if page updated Classroom Accounts create accounts for users without email 8) Comments Users can leave comments on your page (you will be notified as to what is written). This can be helpful if students are adding their own content, other students can read and comment on what they ve created. PBWorks and WIKI Resources PBWorks Online assistance - http://usermanual.pbworks.com/w/page/11632089/home PBWorks Educators Forum - https://educators.pbworks.com/w/page/18697675/frontpage Teachers First (What is a wiki and how to use it in the classroom) - http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/wiki/index.cfm