Basic Wiki Guidelines

Appropriate Use

• Before beginning a wiki project, please review the LISD Acceptable Use Policy.
• GET PERMISSION! Get permission from your administrators and your parents. Let them know that your students are publishing their work on the web.
• NEVER use student last names on any website
• Get rid of the advertising! Choose a wiki that is ad-free and protect your students from inappropriate ads.
• Make sure students understand that anything they publish online is considered school work, and all content should be school appropriate.
• SET YOUR WIKI TO PRIVATE, and password protect it, especially if it includes any school, district, or proprietary information.
• More information about COPPA -Children's Online Privacy Protection Act

Important Info about Editing Wikis

• Only edit one page at a time! If more than one person try to edit the same page at the same time, content could be lost.
• History is important! The history of the page will allow you to delete wrong or inappropriate content, or restore changes that were made inadvertently.

FAQ

1. What is a wiki? A wiki is a type of free online writing space that allow users to add, modify, and update its pages. It is essentially a website that anyone can edit (i.e. Wikipedia).
2. Why wiki? The most obvious benefit of using a wiki is the ability to offer a quick way to collaborate textually, while creating a content rich website. Where the knowledge of the group is greater than an individual, and the end product is the result of group interactions.
3. How can I use it in the classroom?

• Use for student projects where the group members need to contribute at different times and from different locations. (Perfect for small groups!)
• Use for collaborating on ideas and organizing documents and resources from individuals and groups of students.
• Use for a group research project.
• Use for a book club/literature circles.
• Student created books & journaling.
• Classroom discussion.
• Webquests.

Attached below is a Sample Wiki Warranty. Feel free to customize for your campus/class/project. It is a great way to inform parents and keep students on their toes. Please note, these are just general recommendations, not direct instructions from the district.