Students don't need a classroom to learn using distance learning.
"Wiki" means "quick" in Hawaiian. Wikis bring people together by allowing them to collaborate over the Internet. One of most notable Wikis is Wikipedia, which is an online encyclopedia that users from across the globe can view, update and edit. Distance learning is a teaching method that enables students and teachers to share information and learn remotely. By combining the power of a Wiki with the educational benefits of distance learning, you can enhance your students' ability to learn and grow. (See References 1 and 2)
Instructions
1. Study the documentation that came with your wiki, and learn to configure it. Include a "Logon" section at the top of the wiki where students can log on. Be sure to include a navigation menu as well. This allows students to jump to different wiki sections quickly. Include tabs at the top of the wiki that students can click to view discussions and post their own content. Most wiki software comes with many of these default options enabled. You can still tweak them to suit your preferences.
2. Place presentations, photos and multimedia items on the wiki. Wikis can host many different types of files, including videos, MP3 audio files and even web-based slide presentations from the classroom. By making these items available on the web, students do not have to wait until class time to see them.
3. Create a storytelling wiki. Younger students learning to write will have fun logging in and working on collaborative stories. You can post story ideas or allow students to post their own. Since the wiki software knows the identities of students who log on, you can review each student's contribution to the story. Later, you can leave them constructive writing tips.
4. Put a virtual math lab online. Wikis are suitable for researching and solving problems. If you teach mathematics, your students can benefit from posting math questions and asking other students for assistance. You can even post problems in a "Problems" section and let students solve them.
5. Store resource materials online. Place dictionaries, handouts, encyclopedias, schedules, teaching notes, calendars, educational bookmarks and a host of other useful resource information in the Wiki. Students will then have a single location where they can find help. (See Reference 4)
6. Post a "Question and Answer" section on the wiki. Students probably have many questions covering a range of topics. You cannot answer all questions, but you can view them. You might even allow other students to submit answers to questions. Microsoft does this successfully with its "Microsoft Answers" website. It is not a wiki, but it illustrates how computer users can interact with with Microsoft engineers and assist other users. Giving your students this ability in a wiki helps educate them and establish bonds between fellow classmates.
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