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Wikis
What is it? 
A wiki is a type of website that permits users to edit available content. Wikis are designed with the philosophy of making it easy to correct mistakes and through collaboration, difficult to make mistakes. The theory is that an audience will overall provide more accurate information than a single user. An example of a wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia in which users can edit and change information in the encyclopedia. The communities of users ensure that the information is accurate and updated. Users who abuse the system are restricted from the ability to make changes to the encyclopedia.
Wikis
What are the educational uses and benefits?
Assessment:
- Allows the instructor to track submissions and changes to group projects.
- Useful in collecting data from groups of students.
- Allows students to collaboratively write reviews of courses or assignments.
Collaboration:
- Provides a low-cost but effective communication and collaboration tool.
- Promotes the close reading, revision, and tracking of drafts.
- Can be used as internal documentation for in-house systems.
Participation:
- Allows students and instructors to collaborate to create simple websites.
- Allows groups of students to peer edit and evaluate documents for group projects.
- Allows groups of students to group author papers and projects.
Presentations:
- Can be used in place of presentation software such as PowerPoint.
Wikis
Can I see an example?
An example of Wikis is coming soon! Please check back!
Wikis
How do I get started?
Creating a Wiki
There are many free websites that will allow users to register and create wiki pages for private or public view including:
Each of the aforementioned wiki sites will require a username and password. Each site will offer different tools, features, and storage space for the user.
Editing an Existing Wiki Page
- Most wiki sites will require a username and password.
- Login to the wiki to edit the page.
- The tools to edit the wiki are usually similar or the same as the tools in a text editing program.
- Most wikis will monitor the wiki site to ensure that entries and changes to the wikis are accurate. However, if you create a wiki using a free wiki program you can set the wiki to private to ensure that only the instructor and the students have the access to view and edit the wiki.
Using a Blog as a Pseudo-Wiki.
- Create a blog.
- Require all participants to have a blog this will allow the participants to create and edit blog pages and entries.
- Once all participants have a blog give each participant permission to be an author on the wiki blog.
- Assign students the wiki assignment. For example to define a term, explain a concept, demonstrate a rule, etc.
- Once a student makes an entry on the wiki blog the other students must comment on the entry.
- Based on comments the original author returns to his/her entry and revises the entry.
Using a Discussion Board as a Pseudo-Wiki.
- Create a discussion board for the Wiki
- Allow participants to comment on wikis, and edit their entries after they submit them.
- Assign students the wiki assignment. For example to define a term, explain a concept, demonstrate a rule, etc.
- Once a student makes an entry the other students must comment on the entry.
- Based on comments the original author returns to his/her entry and revises the entry.
Wikis
Where can I learn more?
- PBwiki: Create your own wiki site for free.
- PBwiki - Education: What using PBwiki can contribute to educators.
- How Wikis Work: An article from howstuffworks.com
- Using wiki in education: An article outlining ways to use wiki in education, tools, demonstrations, and links.
- Wikipedia: Detailed definition and examples of Wikis
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