Why+use+Wikis?

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It is imperative that teachers and students are well-versed in 21st Century Learning Techniques. With its emphasis on two way communication and collaboration, the use of wikis as part of curriculum falls within this goal. In order to ensure that we are educating [|Future Ready Students], the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has issued learning goals for students, teachers and administrators that show its commitment to 21st Century Learning Techniques.

=__For Students__=
 * Wikis allow students to read, write and edit at the same time**. For example, a U.S. History teacher assigns students to create an article about an event or situation that caused WWII. Each student is responsible for creating their own factual article as well as reviewing other students' articles for content, syntax and grammar. If a student finds a discrepency or factual innacuracy in another student's article, they can edit the text.


 * Wikis encourage writing across the curriculum**. Math students can explain concepts in terms students can understand. Science students can post lab results via wikis. Language arts students can post book reviews or essays. Social studies classes can post information on current events. The ways to use wikis are limitless.


 * Wikis are cool!** Time is the most valuable resource students have at their disposal. They are spending a lot of it online. We need them to concentrate their resources on learning. Wikis are one way to do it.

=__**For Teachers**__=


 * Wikis can be created for free and are available as soon as you need them.** There are many providers to choose from that offer a quality product and provides different features for free. All you need is a computer. There are no special modem speeds, dsl lines or any other equipment needed, and it works on any computer that has Internet access.


 * Work is saved on wikis.** Students will access the wiki for their projects. No more worries about "the dog ate my homework" or "my printer ran out of ink." There work will be available with the push of a button.


 * There's accountability for changes made**. By checking the history of a wiki, a teacher can monitor who is making changes to content. It is easy to find out who "gets" a concept and who may need remediation. The oversight also cuts down on the possibility of vandalism.


 * We want students to be competitive in a global economy**. The world is economically flat and we must train our students to be able to compete with students from around the globe, not just the area where they live. Integrating technology into curriculum will help us acheive this goal. See [|"Web 2.0 Goes Corporate"] for an example of how wikis are being used in the workplace.

Although this wiki is geared primarily toward student learning, teachers can create their own wikis for curriculum teams, sharing of infomation and ideas, calendars and club events. The possiblities are varied and endless.

Ok, you've been sold on using the wiki. In fact, you're excited about the possibilities. Where do we go from here?

How do I create a wiki?

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