Wiki

What is WIKI? 

• A web that anybody can view and edit the content. Anyone with internet connection and web browser can  view and edit.

•     It allows asynchronous communication.

•     Like many simple concepts, "open editing" has some profound and subtle effects on Wiki usage, allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site is exciting in that it encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by nontechnical users.

Who's doing it?

•     First appeared in the mid-1990s.

•     Scientists and engineers used them to create dynamic knowledge bases.

•     Wikis are being used for a wide variety of collaborative activities

•     Faculty and staff in higher education use it for meeting notes.

•     Educators and students, as well as amateurs and professionals have found it useful in expanding community involvement and interest in their subjects and activities.

How does it work?

•     By clicking "edit" link, the script sends the raw text file to browser in an editable form, allowing you to modify the content of the page.

•     Click the "save" button and it will automatically replace the existing file with your changed version.

•     When you request a wiki page, the script gathers the corresponding text file, changes its marked-up text into HTML, turns user-selected words into hyperlinks, inserts information into a page template, and sends the result to the browser.

Why is it significant?

•     a powerful yet flexible collaborative communication tool for developing content-specific Web sites

What are the downsides?

•     Info on wiki are not accurate because it can be modified by anyone.

•     Essentially a database created by group and database for easy access is challenging - one that faculty might not have encountered before.

Where is it going?

•     Wiki carries an inherent potential to change how we construct knowledge repositories on the web.

•     It allows group to form around specific topics.

•     Wiki show great potential as collaborative spaces that may become semi-authoritative voices on particular topics

What are the implications for teaching and learning?

•     Wiki is the easiest and most effective Web-based collaboration tool.

•     Wiki show the evolution of thought processes as student interact with the site and the contents.

•     Wiki is an ideal vehicle for soliciting ongoing input for research where community input can help.

•     Wiki provides various levels of site access and control to team members, offering a fine-tuning element that enhances the teaching and learning experience.