WIKIS IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES: WIKIS IN SCHOOL LIBRARIES Dr. Dana Dukic Kowloon Junior School Library Hong Kong


What are Wikis and how do they work? : What are Wikis and how do they work? Wikis are: simple websites that are created and edited by many authors users can always add new information and edit previous authors’ submissions allow their users to compare previous versions of its pages and to track who wrote or edited what and when browser-based applications, available to end-users any time and at any location Wikis mainly offer 3 types of web space: public space that can be viewed and edited by anyone, protected space that can be viewed by anyone but can only be edited by members of the space private space that can only be viewed or edited by members of the space.


Wikis in school libraries: Wikis in school libraries In school libraries Wikis are used in many different ways. library and information skills tutorials (Library Instruction Wiki) collaborative educational projects (Grandview Library, Moncrief Library Wiki) various reading lists (Pyplibrary, ATN Reading Lists) book reviews (LMC reviews, Tiger Talk, Childrenbooksreviews) a database of professional resources (Library Success: a Best Practices Wiki, LISWiki, Teacherlibrarianwiki, TeacherLibrarianNing, Librarianedge) web pages for professional associations (ALA-APA Union Wiki, SLIC, ALESS)


Wiki tools: Wiki tools There are a number of wiki tools available on the Internet, but among the most popular are: PB Wiki, WetPaint PMWiki MediaWiki WikiSpaces Jot Spot        LibraryZone is built with Wikispaces. For more information about available wiki software and services look at


Wikispaces: Wikispaces Wikispaces is very convenient for educational purposes including libraries for many reasons: it is easy to use has an option that only invited members can edit the content, no-ads version is freely available to educators working in K-12 schools capability to upload various files (text, pictures, audio, and video) capability to embed various media (audio, video, multimedia). contains a visual history page a searching and tagging function a discussion forum usage statistics page feeds with email notification of changes to any page with RSS feeds


LibraryZone: established as a supplement to a school library web created and managed by school librarian space members are Year 3 students in Library Club it is a protected space so that everybody can see it but only members can edit it. LibraryZone


A multipurpose wiki: In LibraryZone students learn research skills write stories generate information resources work on collaborative research projects present their work to wider audience discuss various issues communicate with one another and with the librarian A multipurpose wiki


Slide8: LibraryZone wiki was initially set up as a research skills tutorial. It covers main aspects of the research process: planning the research choosing resources searching the internet website evaluation taking notes creating a presentation Information literacy instruction Research skills The tutorial is supported with resources in various formats interactive an ongoing process


Slide9: Collaborative creating library resources In The Weather project students generated a list of fiction and nonfiction books about weather in the library collection evaluated a number of websites about weather In Lucky Ladybugs project students generated a list of websites about ladybugs suitable for elementary school children used a program named Hot Potatoes to set up a quiz for testing knowledge about ladybugs Information resources


Conducting a collaborative project: Conducting a collaborative project Students participating in this project selected planets to explore searched appropriate websites located on the Resource page wrote down their notes on the Note page looked over each other’s work and added up more information Example: Taking notes about the solar system At the end the practice of searching for information about the solar system and taking notes turned into a genuine collaborative activity. Students’ notes


Story writing: Story writing Wiki as an open software is a perfect story writing tool. Students can access the wiki page and write stories when they feel like writing. . Students wrote stories connected to different research topics, like thunderstorms, ladybugs and space


Wiki as a presentation tool: Wiki as a presentation tool Wiki is also suitable for some individual projects, when students want to demonstrate their expertise in a particular area of knowledge. In this case wiki is primarily used as students’ publishing platform, as a tool for sharing their personal interests and knowledge with peers, teachers, family members and wider audience. Example: Jon’s dinosaurs page


Slide13: Discussion page in Wikispaces is an open forum for wiki members. They used discussion pages to: inform wiki members about their new edits pass some interesting things they learned recently comment on the page contents suggest new contents and pages asked questions All about dinosaurs Notes about the solar system Discussion space


Students’ activity in LibraryZone: Students’ activity in LibraryZone Activity period: January – Jun 2007 Projects: The weather project Lucky Ladybugs Exploring space All about dinosaurs


Slide15: LibraryZone is used as a platform for mashing up various Web 2.0 applications and services. Wikispaces has a built-in ability to import different types of files and to embed various applications in audio, video or multimedia formats. Web 2.0 applications in LibraryZone ClickCaster – The Weather project: Thunder Cake TeacherTube – Exploring Space: Resources Slide – Exploring Space: Resources Furl – Exploring Space: Resources SlideShare – Story writing HotPotato – Lucky Ladybugs PhotoStory – Lucky Ladybugs


Conclusion: Conclusion Web 2.0 technologies are widely accepted by school librarians . Wiki, the new read-write web tool, is convenient because it is interactive always accessible easy to use Wiki operates as a multifunctional learning platform. collaborative projects teaching information literacy creating library resources in collaboration with library users all kinds of writing activities. Wiki works well even with young primary school students they quickly learn to use it and access it from school or home they can work collaboratively on various projects they can use wiki as a communication and publishing tool