In this lesson, we'll look at what you've done with your blogs (Lessons 12–13 and 14) over the holiday, check that everyone's following each other's blogs within Google Reader (and that you've all given your teacher a clearly titled feed for your blog) and then move on to begin to look at wikis together.

First, a note about Google Reader: when software all came shrink-wrapped and on some kind of disk, it was usual to have updates only infrequently. Web-based software means that we are now used to updates being rolled out more often. Google Reader underwent some changes towards the end of last term. If you're confused by anything in the interface, have a look at this overview as to what's new.

1)  Feedback and discussion from last lesson and prep. As well as looking at the design and content of your blogs and the privacy settings, we'll rehearse the online issues of responsible publishing, reputation, identity  ... This paragraph we used you last term needs to be fully understood:

In the digital realm, once something is posted online it has a persistence that is not like something that is said. It is also searchable and replicable and you cannot be sure who your audience is or will be. Once something is posted online, its effects are often magnified and can be mirrored out of context. All of this requires experience to understand. Remember: when you post, you have not only your own reputation to consider but also that of others and that of the school. Every member of the community has to take responsibility for his or her actions online.

2) Your blogs: is everyone up and running and do you have your classmates' blogs' RSS feeds in your Reader? What have you found easy or problematic to do with your blog's design, layout, etc.  Is your holiday work complete? —

One full entry — explaining why you've been asked to start and keep this blog, what a blog is and what you've learned about the history of blogging. 

One full entry — about Google Earth.

One full entry — about wikis.

3)  Wikis. What is a wiki? From Wikipedia (itself a wiki, of course):

A wiki is a software engine that allows users to create, edit, and link web pages easily. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites. They are being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective Intranets and for Knowledge Management. Ward Cunningham, developer of the first wiki, WikiWikiWeb, originally described it as "the simplest online database that could possibly work". One of the best known wikis is Wikipedia.

In class or for prep, watch Wikis in Plain English, CommonCraft video (2007). In class, we'll discuss how collaborative documents (which you already know in the form of Google Docs) and weblogs relate to wikis.  (If time, have a look at Google Docs in Plain English — YouTube, 2007 — and also at these two Twittered comments about Google Docs: Tim O'Reilly; Gavin Starks.)  We'll also think about how we might use wikis and their advantage over email:

• in business — 8 Ways to use a wiki, Atlassian (2007);
• in education — see David Weinberger's From Reading to Writing Textbooks.
  

Last year, some of our U8ths, in collaboration with another school, set up a Physics A Level wiki:

Prep: have a look at this wiki from the Science Museum, this one dedicated to Lenovo ThinkPads and this one from a School of Architecture.  In a  blog post of about 300 words, say what you think of these examples: do they show signs of active life; what do you take away from each — what have you learned that is new to you about wikis, how they're being used and how they function? What can you deduce about good wiki practice (here's a helpful link)?  Can you find other examples of wikis?