1. What is a wiki?This is a featured page

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Meg's BrushUP! objectives

  1. To identify the structural characteristics of wikis.
  2. To compare the functionality of at least two different types of wiki software.

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Your BrushUP! objectives

What are you hoping to learn from this module? Your objectives can be the same as mine, but is there anything else you are expecting to learn? Write it down (or, better still, discuss it on this wiki's forum. Don't worry -- we can set up a wiki for you at the end of the module ...) or discuss with a partner or small group in the class.

Discuss it on the discussion thread for this topic.

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Introduction

Wikis are one of the most powerful Web 2.0 applications to have arisen in recent years and they are starting to really make an impact on education because of the collaboration and communication they encourage amongst students. They also enhance the student learning experience by encouraging group, rather than individual, approaches to learning. This module introduces you to wiki basics. In this module you will learn:

  • Wikibasics.
  • How to find a suitable wiki host.

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Focus questions: What do you know about wikis?

What do you know about wikis? In what context have you heard them discussed? (On the radio? Your kids or workmates have mentioned them? Maybe you know someone who has a wiki or who has added to Wikipedia...) Have you ever read a wikipage? Why do people wiki? What do you need to know more about? Write down your experiences, discuss with a partner or small group in the class, or discuss it on this wiki's discussion forum.

Discuss it on the discussion thread for this topic.

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Wikis: the basics

A wiki is simply a website. But it is a website that others can edit. You can either make your site editable by anyone (with a username and password, usually) or only by those people you invite. This is what makes wikis a 'Web 2.0' technology: the ability for writers and readers to participate directly in the conversation. A wiki can

  • Be professional or personal.
  • Have single or multiple authors.
  • Be open to the public or only viewable to those who you invite.

Most wikis are structured like this:

  • Pages can include any amount of interactive media, including links, photos, video, audio and graphics.
  • Each page has a discussion or comment area attached, where background conversations about the page can go on.
  • Pages have a 'history' function, where you can check out what changes have been made and by what user.
  • Pages are also 'tagged' (meaning that authors give them multiple keywords so that they can be retrieved later on) and archived.

There are many wiki sites that will allow you to set up a wiki for free. Some of the most popular are WetPaint, WikiSpaces, and PB Wiki. All you need to do to get a wiki is to sign up with a wiki site by creating a username and password. You could be wikiing in 30 seconds from now! Wikis are

  • Collaborative.
  • Dead easy to set up.
  • Dead easy to use.
  • Customisable.

Watch the video below from CommonCraft for Wikis in Plain English.

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Finding a suitable wiki host

When introducing students to online spaces, DET Victoria (Word) recommends that you consider the following:

  • Is the site age appropriate?
  • Does the site provide a privacy statement?
  • Does the site provide support - for example does it have a FAQ section and an email address for assistance with problems?
  • Are the services offered by the site appropriate for readers of your posting to use?
  • Are there are any costs associated with creating and maintaining your participation on the site?
  • Is there advice about how you can remove any information posted and how quickly that can occur?

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Exercise: Compare wiki sites

Visit at least two different wiki sites (or, better still, register with them (next module) -- it will make the exercise easier). Explore the functionality of each (e.g.,WetPaint, WikiSpaces, and PB Wiki), especially noting

  • What sort of support is provided? FAQs? Forums?
  • Can you moderate comments?
  • What are the conditions of use of the wiki?
  • Can you customise the look of the wiki?
  • Can you add widgets?
  • How much space is your wiki allocated?
  • Are there any ongoing or hidden costs?
  • What are the privacy options?
  • Can you delete the wiki?


Write down your discoveries, discuss with a partner or small group in the class, oror discussit on this wiki's discussion forum. You could also cross-reference the features of each wiki site by visiting the wikimatrix wiki comparison site.

Discuss it on the discussion thread for this topic.

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Reflection

Write down your thoughts, discuss with a partner or small group in the class, or discussit on this wiki's discussion forum.
  • What have I learnt?
  • What is still unclear?
  • What do I need to follow up on?
  • Where to from here?
  • What other stuff I have read or accessed to help me make sense of it all?

Discuss it on the discussion thread for this topic.

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Links and resources

WetPaint help
WetPaint
WikiSpaces
PB Wiki
Wiki comparison site
SAS Asian History wiki site


MeganPoore
MeganPoore 		Latest page update: made by MeganPoore , Sep 1 2008, 2:04 AM EDT (about this update About This Update MeganPoore Edited by MeganPoore

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MeganPoore 1. Your objectives 2 Mar 20 2009, 4:55 PM EDT by lisahill
Thread started: Mar 30 2008, 7:23 PM EDT  Watch
What are you hoping to learn from this module? Your objectives can be the same as mine, but is there anything else you are expecting to learn? Write down your thoughts, discuss with a partner or small group in the class,or discuss it on this wiki's discussion forum.
Do you find this valuable?    
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MeganPoore 1. Reflection 4 Mar 20 2009, 2:52 PM EDT by lsukari
Thread started: Feb 28 2008, 6:12 PM EST  Watch
Discuss your reflections on the module, 'What is a wiki?' here.

* What have I learnt?
* What is still unclear?
* What do I need to follow up on?
* Where to from here?
* What other stuff I have read or accessed to help me make sense of it all?
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
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MeganPoore 1. Focus questions: What do you know about wikis? 3 Oct 16 2008, 3:33 AM EDT by lisahill
Thread started: Feb 28 2008, 6:08 PM EST  Watch
Discuss your answers to the focus questions 'What do you know about wikis? in the module, 'What is a wiki?' here.

What do you know about wikis? In what context have you heard them discussed? (On the radio? Your kids or workmates have mentioned them? Maybe you know someone who has a wiki or who has added to Wikipedia...) Have you ever read a wikipage? Why do people wiki? What do you need to know more about? Write down your experiences, discuss with a partner or small group in the class, or wiki (or blog!) it!'

What do you know about wikis? In what context have you heard them discussed? (On the radio? Your kids or workmates have mentioned them? Maybe you know someone who has a wiki or who has added to Wikipedia...) Have you ever read a wikipage? Why do people wiki? What do you need to know more about? Write down your experiences, discuss with a partner or small group in the class, or wiki (or blog!) it!
Do you find this valuable?    
Keyword tags: None
Show Last Reply
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