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\begin{document}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}
Wiki in the mathematics classroom
\end{head}
\begin{center}P. Christopher Staecker

\url{http://www.messiah.edu/\~cstaecker} %
% Given at Joint Meetings, 1/6/07

1/6/07

\end{center}
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}
The wiki way: free as in freedom
\end{head}
A wiki is a document (website) which can be modified by any of its
readers. The concept is a natural one in the free open source software
movement (linux, firefox, \LaTeX), where all users of the software are
guaranteed the right to access and modify the source code.

Large wikis are: Wikipedia, PlanetMath
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}From blogs to wiki\end{head}
Technically a wiki is only a slight tweak of the blog software model,
but wikis are culturally very different from blogs.

A wiki typically is used for creating \emph{collaborative documents},
rather than for discussion. 

Ideally, no single reader claims authorship or
ownership of pieces of the content, nobody ``signs'' thier
contributions. The document is the product of the whole community.
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}The reader's role\end{head}
Wiki provides a good learning environment because of the unique
attitude of the reader.

While reading a wiki, the mind of the reader of the wiki will become
focused not merely on the reading of the text, but on possible avenues
for improvements that they may have imagined.

This shifts the reader's focus in a pedagogically useful way. The
reader automatically becomes \emph{critical}.
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Hypertext\end{head}
Wikis are written in hypertext (with links).

The reader/author is encouraged to constantly \emph{make connections} between
topics. A wiki document can express:
\begin{itemize}
\item interconnected subjects 
\item nonlinear structure
\item overlapping categorical organization
\end{itemize}
Textbooks and typical course material don't do this very well.
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}MediaWiki: a free wiki server\end{head}
The most commonly used wiki software online today is {\bf MediaWiki},
a free software project which runs on linux, Windows, or Mac OS X. You
can set up your own in a few minutes.

A typical article looks like:

\begin{center}
\includegraphics{typical}
\end{center}
%graphic with a typical MW page- edit tab, history tab, talk tab
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Editing syntax\end{head}
Users write the pages in a simple code, which allows specification of
links, basic formatting, inclusion of images, and math formulas.

The code:
{\small 
\begin{verbatim}
I love the [[quadratic formula]]!

:<math> x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a} </math>

It just ''rolls'' off the tongue!
\end{verbatim}
}
produces:

\includegraphics{editrendered}
%side-by-side code/rendered images here

\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Page history\end{head}
Every page has a ``history'' tab, which allows access to all previous
versions of the page. 

Using the ``compare versions'' button gives you a precise report of
exactly what has changed from one version to the next, like this:

\includegraphics{diff}
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Talk page\end{head}
Every page has a discussion page attached to it.

\includegraphics{talk}

Here, users post in blog-fashion, to conduct discussions about the
page. 
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}An assignment model\end{head}
I have used a Wikipedia-type assignment model in my classes.

Students have an open-ended assignment for the entire semester to
collaboratively create a wiki version of their class notes and the
textbook.

\begin{itemize}
\item One \emph{major edit} every two weeks
\item Three \emph{minor edits} every week
\end{itemize}

The minor edit is actually a reading assignment in disguise, and
ensures real collaboration. 
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Suggestions for the WP model\end{head}
\begin{itemize}
\item Userpage orientation
\item Anonymous usernames
\item Prof. uses talk pages a lot
\end{itemize}
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Pointing out errors\end{head}
If I see a mistake, I put a notice on the page:

\includegraphics{errorsbox}

Then I put a note on the talk page:

\includegraphics{errorsnote}
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Other ideas\end{head}
\begin{itemize}
\item Ordinary writing assignments readable by whole class
\item Exercise $\to$ solution
\item Single-author paper seeds a collaboration
\end{itemize}
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Student response\end{head}
\begin{itemize}
\item Horrible freedom!
\item Some technophobia
\item Some technophilia
\item Some annoyance at writing
\item Some love to write
\item Most like to use as reference
\item Some write to study
\item Many don't know what to think
\end{itemize}
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head}Student evaluation comments\end{head}
\begin{itemize}
\item ``The wiki was interesting''
\item ``A great way to help interaction of materials''
\item ``Sometimes there wasn't any room for new major edits''
\item ``Wiki''
\item ``A lot more work for some than for others''
\item ``creative way of studying''
\item ``Make wiki optional: I like to use it, but it's a chore to edit it''
\end{itemize}
\end{slide}

\begin{slide}
\begin{head} More resources \end{head}
\begin{itemize}
\item MediaWiki software: 

\url{http://www.mediawiki.org}
\item My old wikis and \LaTeX\ export at my homepage (research)

\url{http://www.messiah.edu/~cstaecker}
\end{itemize}
\end{slide}

\end{document}