If I would remember to turn on my Trailfire and follow my paths, back, I would not have to begin posts like this. However, there was a lapse in memory the other day, so I must.

I followed a link from somewhere to pikiwiki the other day and I think I’ve found a new technology that would be great for student presentations. Let me explain.

I usually have students do a group presentation each semester and require them to incorporate some form of visual with their presentation. I’ve always asked them to consider creating a wiki or a website, yet I always end up with nothing more than a simple PowerPoint. I know that part of this is because some of them are not sure about how to create a website or a wiki. Unfortunately, this is a complex thing to teach in a class (believe it or not). I try to get my students to create visual aids that supplement their presentations instead of creating presentations they read. However, no matter how much I try, it seems that my students are always putting ALL of their information into the PowerPoint and then simply reading it to the class. So, I think this is one area where a website would benefit them. So, I’ve been pondering ways to teach them to create a visual aid where they can use the features of the aid as talking points without reading directly from it. I think pikiwiki can do this. Why? Read on.

Pikiwiki works like a wiki–but with NO programming (CSS or HTML) required. Students can type in text boxes and then drag these boxes around where they want. They can resize their text, color, it and change the font, all with the same forms of technology they use in their email, blogs, and MySpace pages. They can drag and drop pictures and move them around as they wish. They can record audio or link a YouTube video. They can add images and change the color of the background. It’s fabulous in my opinion. Why?

First, students are limited to create one page at a time, so they have to focus on putting the most important information on that one page. This means they have to think carefully about the specifically about the videos and images they upload. They also have to think about what specific text is on the page and how they arrange everything. I think that, in the classroom, this will allow me to spend more time focusing on creating a better visual aid (and thinking outside the box) than I spend trying to teach each individual group how to write a wiki in only a few ways. Instead, I can use a longer assignment later in the semester and have each one create a page for a wiki. This way, we can walk through this technology step by step.

Second, pikiwiki makes students collaborate on a higher level than other formats do. Powerpoint, wikis and even websites all allow each group member to create their own slides or pages. However, I think that asking each group to create only one pikiwiki page will require them to collaborate on a more complex level. This means that students returning to their personal computer to do “their part” and then come together to only discuss the background and order of the pages is a thing of the past. With pikiwiki, each group member is required to talk about all aspects of the page to make sure that the page has the best impact for the presentation. They will have to decide which of the flicker images or YouTube videos they want to use instead of using each of them.

Finally, I think that using pikiwiki can help students learn to collaborate on the level they will need in the real world. By asking students to collaborate on every aspect of the page, they will gain experiences that can be used far beyond the classroom. So, I think that it would be a good idea to ask students to keep a journal of their experiences as they go. This way, they can reflect back on the big decisions that came with the collaboration. In this journal they can discuss the choices for video and image layouts. They can discuss the way the group collaborated on the text that was included with the page and how decisions were made on the final product. It might even be a good idea to have students write a reflective essay (if you teach an English class, this is another good way to get students an essay credit while further talking about their use of technology) in which they discuss their journals and their collaborative projects in a more detailed, organized manner.

For more on pikiwiki (and a brief discussion) see the short video below. It’s brief, but a simple preview. Just remember, the rest of the post is below the video

Now, since I fully believe that we should all try out the technology before considering it in the class, I decided to make my own page. The great thing is, not only does the page allow me to share it with you, but it allows you to edit it as you wish (a setting that can be turned off, but please don’t). So here’s what I’m proposing. For all of you reading this who are considering using pikiwiki in your classes, check out the page and edit it. Then, post a picture of the updated page on your blog and talk about it. Make sure to send me a link.

Here’s the link to the page I created.

Here’s a visual of the page. So, what are you waiting for? Try it and post it. Let me know what you think.