Kansas State University

Using wikis for coursework

One of the hottest trends in e-learning is the integration of wikis into the learning process.

Wikis -- an abbreviation of the Hawaiian word for "fast" -- allow users to collaboratively share information by setting up a hyperlinked site based on a particular subject or course. This social software may be modified asynchronously, which makes access convenient. Users add content through writing or through uploaded digital content such as slideshows, text files, digital images, audio and video files.

"Why not blogs or forums?" Blogs are usually one-to-many with one blogger writing to many, with occasional responses by the readership. Internet forums tend to be peer-to-peer or many-to-many publications. Wikis are collaborative and may be microcast (to a particular course with password protection) or broadcast to a wide readership.

In universities and colleges, wikis are used to publicize events and conferences; to collaborate on research projects, publications, and grant proposals; as private intranets; and as knowledge management systems. Educators use wikis to promote peer-to-peer student discussions and to showcase student work.

Some wikis are password-protected and only readable and editable by those with access. Others are public and may be read, accessed, and edited by anyone with a membership to the wiki-hosted site. Various online aggregators have collected listings of topic-based educational wikis. Such Web 2.0 publishing among classmates or to an even wider audience changes the tenor of the learning and discussions.

Free, hosted wiki sites known as "wiki farms" offer special access and terms to educators, and even educator-specific information such as case studies, white papers, videos, and frequently asked questions. Criteria suggested for wiki-host selection include the following: cost, control, clarity, common technical framework, and features (Schwartz, Clark, Cossarin and Rudolph, Apr. 2004, pp. 1-6). Peruse the terms of use and privacy protections for each of the wiki farm sites. Intellectual property rights and user privacy need to be protected (against compromise and against excessive advertising). The standard "layout" should be aesthetically pleasing, and the navigation and user interface should be intuitive and accessible.

Before using a wiki in a course, faculty might want to set up a trial wiki. Create policies (on intellectual property, netiquette, and FERPA) for the use of the wiki in the course. Design assignments for effective wiki use.

Although wikis are third-party software sites, they may be "integrated" with K-State Online (Axio Learning Management System) as a link on the course Home Page, in the Announcements section, or even as a bookmark in the K-State Connection.

See the comparison of wiki farms on Wikipedia. Popular wiki sites include:

• PBwiki.com
• Wikia
• Wikispaces
• Wikidot
• Wikihost

"Freezing" your credit information for identity fraud protection

Identity theft is a serious threat:

• 8-10 million U.S. citizens are victims of identity theft each year.
• It costs businesses $48 billion and consumers $5 billion annually.
• A victim will spend an average of 40-60 hours resolving the issues associated with a stolen identity.

The most common use of a stolen identity is to open a new credit card account in the victim's name and quickly spend large amounts of money. Kansas is one of 39 states with a law offering individuals effective protection against this form of fraud by placing a "security freeze" on their credit file.

If you freeze your credit, businesses cannot view your credit report or credit score so they will not open a new account in your name. This offers better protection than a "fraud alert" which merely informs those looking at your credit file that there may be fraudulent activity related to that account and to contact you before issuing the credit; if the business thinks they are communicating with you when they are actually talking to the identity thief, they may still issue the credit without contacting you. Also, a fraud alert for people who are not victims of ID theft expires after 90 days, so it only provides short-term protection.

When you freeze your credit, you will be given a special PIN you can use online to unlock your credit information temporarily so you can get a loan or otherwise give access to a business to conduct a legitimate transaction on your behalf. Afterward, you can freeze your account again.

Be aware that your credit information is accessed for MANY different purposes (loan, credit, mortgage, insurance, rental housing, employment, investment, license, cellphone purchase, utilities, Internet credit card transaction, etc.), so a security freeze may delay or complicate your ability to conduct business. Don't place a freeze on your credit unless you suspect or know you are a victim of identity theft or are prepared to deal with the hassle of thawing your credit information.

For Kansans, there's a $10 fee every time you freeze or thaw your credit information, which is only waived if you can prove you are a victim of identity theft (the fees and waivers vary by state). For effective protection, you must freeze your credit with each of the three major credit bureaus, so it could cost $30 every time you make a change. Read the information about security freezes at each bureau (EquiFax, Experian, and TransUnion) and carefully consider the tradeoffs before making a decision about freezing your credit.

The Consumer's Union has good information to help with that decision:

• An FAQ about security freezes
• Things to consider (PDF) when deciding whether to place a security freeze
• Specific instructions for Kansans (PDF) on how to place a security freeze
• Detailed information about the laws in each state pertaining to security freezes
• General information about financial fraud

Any online training workshops?

I can't make it to any of the face-to-face workshops, do you have any online training courses for K-State Online?

Yes. The following courses are available online:

• Creating a Course
• Creating Manual Assignments
• Creating Online Assignments
• Creating an Advising Space

See the registration form to enroll.

Buy Word 2004 for Mac or wait for 2008 version?

I need Microsoft Word for a Mac. Should I buy Word 2004 for Mac or is an upgrade in the works?

Microsoft is releasing Office 2008 for Mac in mid-January. In the education market, Word for Mac is part of the Office suite for Mac. The boxed version is called "Office 2008 for Mac Home and Student Edition" and is $149.95. Word 2008 for Mac will not be sold separately in the academic version. The Union Computer Store will carry the new version when it is released, and Student Select Licensing should be available in April-May. See these Microsoft sites for details:

• Simplify Your Work: Office 2008 for Mac Details Revealed
• Promotion: Every Mac needs an Office

Should you wait for the 2008 version? Consider the following:

1. Office 2004 for Mac is time-tested, reliable, and offers many features. If it has all you need, you don’t need to run out and buy the new version.
2. If you don’t need/want any of the new features of Office 2008 for Mac, there’s no reason to wait for the upgrade. (See www.macoffice2008.com.)
3. As with any new software version, the possibility of compatibility issues may arise when trading files with others who are still using older versions.
4. Do you need it NOW to do any work that needs to be done, or can you use other tools (iWork, Open Office, NeoOffice, Google Docs) until the new version comes out?
5. Does your computer meet the requirements to run the new version?

Review of Amazon's Kindle electronic reader

Amazon released Kindle, its ebook reader, in late 2007. The Kindle was sold out within hours of its coming-out party. (My Kindle arrived a few hours after Manhattan's power failure in mid-December.) Below is a brief review of the pros and cons of the device.

The Kindle is about the size of a paperback and weighs 10.3 ounces. See Wikipedia's Kindle entry for an overview.

The pros

• More than 93,000 ebook titles are available for the Kindle. Readers can purchase content using the Sprint cellular network. There is no service charge, and any fees Sprint may charge for this service are built into the device and ebook download cost.
• The median price of a book is $9. A few rare ebooks are more expensive.
• Some books that are out-of-print in their paper form are available via ebooks. Amazon even offers writers a way to publish their works through Amazon's site for the Kindle. It costs the author nothing, and they receive 35 percent of the asking price.
• The battery lasts more than a week with the wireless turned off. With wireless on, it lasts about two days.
• An SD memory slot allows additional storing of books.
• Chapter previews can be downloaded in advance of purchase.
• To reduce eye strain, the font size can be changed. The screen actually looks like paper in many ways and is very easy on the eyes. After about five minutes of reading, you forget you are using an ebook reader.
• Other early-release features include the availability of the Internet in black-and-white and the ability to read some national newspapers delivered automatically every morning.
• Readers can add notes on the text while reading, and the Kindle saves these passages in a convenient location along with citation information for future research.

The cons

• Book selection is a bit limited, but will grow.
• The battery must be charged and depends on wireless use.
• Cost is $399.
• Sprint coverage is required to purchase a book. Consult the Sprint coverage map at sprint.com to see if your area is covered.
• There is no library book option where you can check a book out for a period of time and "return" or share a book with friends and family.

Pro and con

• Content is protected by Digital Rights Management (DRM).