Using WiKis to Homeschool

[JenniferErix]

Using WiKis to Homeschool

We've had this topic come up on different threads and I wanted to start a pure WiKi thread with peoples WiKi links and helps and ideas and brags....

First off, let's define what we are talking about:
WiKi: Noun : a Web site that allows the owners (and visitors, if the owner allows it) to make changes, contributions, or corrections. a fill in the blank, easy to make web page with endless joining pages.

Can I see an example of a Wiki?
Sure! The most popular is: Wikipedia.com (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page) A constantly edited encylopedia. Edited from everyone around the world.

Can I see and example of wikis used in homeschooling?
Absolutely! Here is mine:
Empyrean Academy (http://empyreanacademy.pbwiki.com)

(Edited to correct address)

How we are using it, in Homeschooling:
Having a centralized location for the educational schedule, links and files that can be public or private.

Yes it sounds simple, but you can imagine it is starting to get really BIG with ideas rolling in from all over the world.

How much does this cost?
WiKis are free.

Where can I get my WiKi?
There are several sites to choose from. Here are four sites that have good reputations, Little if no advertising and that have security settings... Simply register for free and choose your WiKi name.....

PBWiki (http://pbwiki.com/)
WikiDot (http://www.wikidot.com/)
WiKiSpaces (http://www.wikispaces.com/)
WetPaintWiki (http://www.wetpaint.com/)

How do I edit my WiKi? I do not have a webpage, nor do I really care to learn HTML.
Not a problem. In fact THAT is why people love them! They are relatively easy. They are designed for folks who just wanna get it posted without having to worry about reading some manual.
These WiKis have the ability to allow for the more advanced users to have their way with them, but they also have very user friendly interfaces with a lot of "Drag and Drop" and "Fill in the Blank" type of editing features. Never be afraid of trying something new.
Each WiKi site is different, and we also have this thread to ask questions, so if you need help, just ask!

Why did you make this thread?
To get a discusion started about Wikis.
To facilitate those who use wikis for homeschooling to have a place for ideas and help in their wiki development.
To spread the word to others about wikis and encourage those who wikis may help.

Now, please don't let this thread die.....
If you have a wiki idea...
If you have a wiki to brag about...
If you want someone to critique your wiki...
If you need help with your wiki....
If you find a really cool, helpful, useless but funny wiki... Etc.....
POST IT! :lol:

[JenniferErix]

Because We have young children, we choose to use the Windows Vista Parental Control features to limit access online.

Yet, at the same time, we adore the ability to have a completely interactive wiki complete with videos tutors and interactive games and so forth.

So how do we marry the two ideas without going insane?

If you would like to have the interactivity of having videos and games on your wiki for your children, but do not want to open them up to all of the internet, here is a tip:

Use "Copy and Paste" and "Notepad" to limit their access....
Here is how I do it ...

The Vista settings one their user accounts are different for each child variant upon the maturity level.

The web settings are set to NO DOWNLOADS and ONLY WEB PAGES WE TYPE IN.

Now, this can be a pain, but it is worth it, and only needs to be done once a week, really.

I have a folder on my bookmarks for games and one for videos. When I find a game or video that supliments the lesson for the upcomming week, I slip it into that bookmark folder.
Then, when I am ready to update my wiki for the children...

I open NOTEPAD (Comes with every computer, or just use any program that allows you to type).
Then I open the bookmarks of the games and the videos.
I copy and paste their URLs (The http: address) into notepad.
Then I go to the "Control Panel" and then to "USER CONTROLS" And enter these links into the ALLOWED LINKS section.

NOTE: If you have several games or videos from ONE site that you know you will re-visit... simply type in the MAIN URL for the site... ie: If you have a few games from iknowthat.com, then don't worry about having to enter EACH games URL.... just type in the MAIN address... http://www.iknowthat.com . Then ALL pages from that site will be allowed without you having to be entered....

Sounds like a job, but once it is set, your computer is more secure and you are more free to add links worry free on your kids' wikis...




What about the YOTUBE problem?
The YouTube Problem is this... You can EMBED youtube videos on your wikis. However, as we have recently found, embeding the videos on your iki does NOT prevent the child from going to youtube. AND... if you block YOU TUBE on your childs' computer the EMBED videos will NOT show up...

Sigh... What to do???

DOWNLOAD The video to your computer.
(Delete it after you are done, of course to save space...) Direct the clickable link that the child would normally click on to the FILE on your computer, INSTEAD of to the video on you tube!

The address that you link to should look something like this: C:/programfiles/downloads/youtube/videoname.flv

HOW do I download them?
Use Internet Explorer for your Browser.
Get it free here (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/downloads/ie/getitnow.mspx)

Download Realplayer 11 or higher.
Get it free here (http://www.real.com/realcom/home/refresh/3?pageid=broadBandHomePage&pageregion=div_03&src=realhome_bb_0_3_1_0_0_1_0&pcode=rn&opage=realhome_bb)


After you do so, when you use internet explorer to view a video on youtube, and mouse over the video, Realplayer 11 will pop up a little "DOWNLOAD VIDEO" menu.... USE IT.

This is VERY cool...
We have ALL the Bill Nye videos!


Remember where you save it.
Perhaps you can create a new folder in your downoads folder for youtube videos.

If you need the space, simply delete the videos when not needed.


Ok, off to soccer practice.. more later......

[JenniferErix]

Another trick I have learned to adding things to my wiki....

When I want to add a photo for refference or just for asthetics, istead of going through a lot of trouble with saveing uploading and all of that.. I simly click and drag the dang photo from the source to the wiki page, litterally....

Say I am on an educational site with a nice photo of a Native American and I want to use it on my wiki to spice things up...
I open a new tab in my browser and go to my wiki. I open the wiki to edit. Once on the edit page, i click back on to the tab where the photo is.
I click on the photo and litteraly drag it to the tab where the wiki is and hold. While holding, the wiki tab will open and I continue my drag to a place in the wiki edit page, where I want it to go. VOILA!

May not work with internet explorer. I mostly use Firefox, unless needing to download videos.

[JenniferErix]

Another source of video tutors....

Studio For Learning
http://www.studio4learning.tv/

I believe the only thing on here is the "Standard Deviants" tv show, but it is broken down into CLIPS, making it not only easier for downloading, but also for indexing based on individual topics.

It is also completely family friendly, unlike youtube. So you can put the main URL in your ALLOWED list and actually embed their videos directly into your wiki for your children to view before any given lesson or worksheet assignment.

Cool, eh>?

The only problem I have is that no matter what I do, I cannot get the videos to NOT play automatically upon loading the page. So if I have one or more loaded on my wiki page, they ALL begin to play at the same time.. argh!

So direct links to said video clips is working best for us, till I can figure the rest out...

[homeschooler06]

wow

[becky]

I used Wikipedia and YouTube for music all last month. We did folk songs, so I'd find a song, look for a performance on YT, and a story behind the song on Wikipedia. It worked out pretty well.

[JenniferErix]

I found out that trying to get a program, such as notepad, or any program on your computer... to run from a clickable link on your wiki, or ANY webpage for that matter is really a serious security issue for your hard drive.

So that is a no go.

What I have done is to just go ahead and teach the child where the programs are. Why teach two different ways, eh? And create a quick launch icon in the taskbar.

They have an assignment to type up something, and the instructions will include something like: "Open Notepad and type your assignment."

Oh well, you can only get soo fancy, eh?

[TeacherMom]

hmm is it simple enough for a kid to do thier own? MY ds has a page connected to mine but he is really good at this stuff.... it sounds simple and I think you said ti was free?
I will have dh look into his having one cause I can use this as a class and he will enjoy it!
He already knows most of the things that you can do, he has not done Excel yet so we will have to teach that one yet, but seriously this kid has been a computer nut since 2-3 yrs old.. we used to call him a little hacker cause he would go in and change settings on us! lol
I would love to give him a place to put that info!

[TeacherMom]

The link just went to Wikipediea when we clicked on your wiki example.. no fair! My ds is sitting here chomping at the bit!
we want more info! hahah!

[JenniferErix]

More info?!
Holy canoli!
I just typed a book!
aahahahahaha

Yes, your kid can do pages himself.
You have to set his membership as a WRITER or as another ADMINISTRATOR. Then he will have permissons to be able to edit and add pages.

If he types any of his assignments, you can have him upload them to a documents page where you can check it later.

Not sure what else you were asking.

[JenniferErix]

To see some GREAT examples of what can be done with these WiKis go here....

http://www.publicpbwikis.com/Educational/K-8/

We'll send a rescue team, if you are not heard from in a day or two of browsing! hahahaha!

[TeacherMom]

would you suggest a blog site or a wiki site, my son wants to set up things himself is knowledgeable about it we almost had one done then I clicked the wrong button haha! So we will probably set one up today, we checked otu he blogger site, and this, and are thinking the wiki looks more exciting.... and easy enough either way, blog or wiki... so trying to deside, I will set it up for/with him then allow him to add and adjust what he wants and how on it. The boy already has aweb page w just cant get into it cause we lost the pass hahah!

[JenniferErix]

How old is your son?
Since mine are younger, I like being in control with the wiki. But if he is older a blog might not be a bad idea. As long as you can trust he is not going to blog personal info and stuff like that of course.

It also matters what you are trying to accomplish. Having a blog or wiki with no purpose, just simply becomes one other thing to manage with no results.

I do not have a blog, because when I did, it became a job to keep it going.

The page I have with bookmarks is not updated everyday, just when I find new links, and it is really just a depository, if you will.

But the wiki is meant to be alive with constant change. It is there to facilitate our learning by allowing for a more smoothly flow of interactive tools, ie: videos, games, links to info on topics, etc...

So I try to keep it simple, because if the wiki is not working for me to make things easier and or more fullufilling, then it is just something that is getting in the way of our learning.

So I would have to say that defining what you might want out of a blog or wiki is the first step to determining which way to go, and if you want either at all.

[TeacherMom]

Mine that I am refering to is the 6th grader, he is starting otu with a blog site, learning that for now. We did a couple tries to set up wikis, but at one point it says something about paying for it and thats when I dropped it. I will let him play blogger for a while then let him go a step up. Like i mentioned hee has already designed a web page before normal type of web page, so he has the idea down and is enjoying the idea of adding things for his friends to view on a blog... for now.
it is secured too so that is good. the fact that you have to allow users to post and all that stuff, thats good.

[TeacherMom]

Oh btw, after viewing all that you are doing I am going to set up his lesson plan on one of the things we have either web site or blog, or maybe a wiki if I get brave haha! (in case you have not figured it out I am technologically chicken!)