Contrary to popular belief, a "wiki" is neither inherently wicked nor overtly evil. If that is the mindset you're bringing to this Thing I'm gonna say that you, like many people, are confusing "wikis" with Led Zeppelin. To clarify, a wiki is a collaborative Web site and authoring tool that allows users to easily add, remove and edit content. Wikipedia, the online open-community encyclopedia, is the largest, most well known (and arguably the most controversial) of these knowledge-sharing tools. Wikis have many benefits, are easy to use, and have many applications. Led Zeppelin, on the other hand, was a wildly successful British, heavy metal band from the late sixties/early seventies; sweaty, greasy-haired, misogynistic and pure evil.
With that confusion cleared up, let's look at some of the benefits of wikis:
- Anyone (registered or unregistered, if unrestricted) can add, edit or delete content.
- Tracking tools allow you to easily keep up on what been changed and by whom.
- Earlier versions of a page can be rolled back and viewed when needed.
- Users do not need to know HTML in order to apply styles to text or add and edit content.
Organizations all over the world have begun to use wikis to collaborate and share knowledge. Their applications in educational and professional settings are numerous. As you will soon see when you start looking at the wikis in the list below, the content of a wiki depends greatly on the knowledge and commitment of participants.
1. Watch this Common Craft video on Wikis. It is a quick and easy intro to wikis.
2. Take a look at some notable wikis and blog about your findings. Here are a few examples to get you started:
- wikiHow is a how-to site that covers boundless topics in a neat and original how-to format. This wiki covers everything from "How to French Kiss" to "How to Taste Chocolate" to "How to Sleep Comfortably on a Warm Night."
- Book Lovers Wiki - developed by the Princeton Public Library.
- Illogicopedia is a goofy, nonsensical wiki that is more entertaining to contribute to than to read.
- Wikia is not really a "wiki," but rather a network of wikis. They have wikis on a boatload of topics, and you can be sure to find one that interests you.
Here are some Minnesota wikis:
- Educational Heritage Project, a wiki from Minnesota Literacy Council
- Minnewiki from Minnesota Public Radio
- Beekeeping in MN wiki
- MN 150 wiki from Minnesota Historical Society
3. Add or edit an entry in the Ai MN 16 Things "The Ultimate Dream Supply Kit" wiki or any other wiki you choose. (Note: When you create your account and sign in to the 16 Things wiki, be sure you uncheck the box asking to receive an update every time this wiki is updated. If you don't, you will receive an email everytime anyone edits the wiki.) Or, if you don't want to "mess up" a wiki (not really possible...), practice in the Wiki Sandbox (but, seriously, don't be that guy.) Let us know in your blog which wiki and entry you edited.
Resources
Use these resources to learn more about wikis:
- Using Wikis to Create Online Communities – a good overview of what a wiki is and how it can be used in libraries.
- This 2007 presentation by Joyce Yukawa, MLIS Program, College of St. Catherine at Minnesota Library Association is a great resource on how libraries can use wikis as their Web presence.
- Wiki, wiki, wiki - from the Core Competency blog of the Public Library of Charlotte-Mecklenburg County.
- Wikis: A Beginner’s Look – an excellent short slide presentation that offers a short introduction and examples.
- What is a Wiki? – Library Success wiki presentation.
What did you find interesting about the wiki concept?
What types of applications within schools and professional organizations might work well with a wiki?
Many teachers/faculty "ban" Wikipedia as a source for student research. What do you think of the practice of limiting information by format?
Which wiki did you edit?
Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin IV or Physical Graffiti and why?
Challenge (optional)
1. Want to create your own wiki? These sites provide free wiki hosting. Ai MN 16 Things Wiki uses PB Wiki ("easy as making a peanut butter sandwich").
2. Choose a topic, create the wiki, add entries, and let us know what you are doing.
