The wiki you are probably most familiar with is Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia is designed so that its users can add and edit content. There are services like PBwiki and Wikispaces that offer free wikis for educators. Teachers can use a wikis for classroom websites, student portfolios, jigsaw activities, study guides, book review, glossaries, and so much more.

Here are some example wikis:

• Arbor Heights Elementary School - Seattle, Washington, entire school site is a wiki
• Teampedia - Team building activities and ice breakers
• Global Gorillas - Greenville, Pennsylvania, 5th grade
• Geometry Honors - Ms. Schmitz's wiki for her classes
• Ms. Weber's Class Wiki - California, 2nd and 3rd class
• Terry the Tennis Ball - "Choose Your Own Adventure" story by third and fourth graders in Australia
• Educational Wikis - Listing of dozens of classroom wikis
• Anchor's Away - Educational games and activities for students with laptops
• EduWiki.us - Wiki for educational technology
• You'll Love Wikis - Wiki used at MEC 2009

3 Places to Start a Wiki

PB Wiki

• Sign up for a free educational account
• Set Up Student Accounts (no email required)
• Basics of setting up a PB Wiki
• PB Wiki Help

Wikispaces

• Sign up for a free educational account
• Getting started tour videos

Google Sites

• Sign up for a free Google account (you probably already have one)
• Create a new site
• Watch an introduction video (TeacherTube)
• Use as wiki by choosing Site Settings > Share this site > Invite people as collaborators (required email addresses)