Multimedia Wikis
Wikis allow students to incorporate text, graphics, audio, and video. Before posting content, check to be sure you have permission. Generally people place their content in wikis under the Creative Commons rules known as “share and share alike.” In other words, you can use and link to information found on other wikis as long as it is cited.
You can also embed widgets and other add-ons from other websites into your projects. Before you add these resources be sure to check that they load on all computers and web browsers.
Documents
Rather than uploading the original files, provide standard file formats that end users can view without special software. For example, export Inspiration documents as JPG files or Word documents as PDF files. Use PDFCreator or CutePDF to convert Windows files to PDF format. Also, think about compressing large documents such as PowerPoint files.
- Penguins - Student Kidspiration projects
- First Grade Space Page - Students share drawings and audio recordings
- Third Grade Arctic Page - Scanned student drawings and links
- Science Newsletters - Teacher uploads science newsletters
Photographs
Use editing tools such as open source GIMP or Paint.net to resize and adjust the resolution on visuals. If you want thumbnail size, use 100 pixels. use 200-300 pixels for a nice web page graphic.
- Hands, Hands, Hands - A creative writing projects based on photographs of hands
- My Box of Achievements - Students create a "box of achievements" and photograph the contents. Then, share the photo.
For additional sources of visuals, go to
- Visual Resources from Teacher Tap
- Videos from Sidekicks
Audio and Podcasts
Use Audacity to create your MP3 audio files.
- Insects - Grade 1
- Science Misconceptions Podcasts
- Space Page - Grade 1
For additional sources of audio, go to Audio from Sidekicks.
Video Projects
It's easy to create short videos using your still camera. Also, think about using tools such as PhotoStory to combine still photos, narration, and music.
Embed YouTube, SchoolTube, TeacherTube, or other streaming video into your project. Most of the website provide directions.
- Polar Regions - Elementary
- Incorporate student-produced PhotoStory projects, video productions
- Digital Stories - Scanned drawings combined with students audio using a tool like PhotoStory.
- High Speed Video
- World War II - Grade 6
- Learn more at Online Math Video.
Add-Ons
It's possible to insert all kinds of widgets into your wiki. Explore the following pages for examples. Look at their code to see how they work.
- CollaborationNation - counter, quotes, news, word match, hangman game
Use the following links for tools and resources that can be embedded in your wiki projects.
- Widgets, Badges, and Buttons - Links to lots of objects to include on web pages
- Widget Mate
- WikiTools - This page contains links to lots of tools and widgets you can use in your wiki projects.