Wiki Basics… Used with permission from Gail Junion-Metz Fiddled with by Traci Landry

What is a Wiki? Wiki is the Hawaiian word for “quick” Term coined by programmer Ward Cunningham in 1995 It’s a web-based collaborative tool It lets lots of folks add / edit Wiki content

Wikis Blogs Group thoughts By topic Anyone edits Changes anytime Changes archived Less familiar Individual thoughts Chronological Anyone comments Content not changed Edits not archived More familiar

Wiki Principles Openness and Trust Anyone can change anything – both reading and editing are possible (and encouraged) No individual page ownership or authoring - community owned / created

Wiki Principles Incremental (not chronological) Organized by topic Pages can cite other pages, even those not written yet (future links usually display in red)

Wiki Principles Observable You can see the changes being made

Wiki Principles Organic Content will change and evolve Organization will change and evolve

Wiki Principles Can restrict membership / editing Certain Wikis / sections of wikis can’t be changed by everyone

Wikipedia A collaborative ‘encyclopedia’ created by multiple content creators

Wikipedia 5 million articles in over 200 languages 11th most visited site on the Web No ads A non-profit, collaborative effort

Problems with Wikipedia Lack of citations Hard to evaluate accuracy Inconsistent quality Content always changing ‘Vandals’

Searching the Wikipedia & Wikis Clusty Wikipedia Search Wiki.com

Why Create a Wiki? Very easy to create, update, edit Inexpensive (many good Wiki sites are free) Staff and students can add comments, ideas, information Most Wikis can be keyword searched

Why Not to Create a Wiki… Can be disorganized Not enough control of content Spam and vandals

Who Can Join Your Wiki? Everyone in the whole world All local community members All library staff Selected school / district staff All students / parents

Private Wikis Only certain folks can view / edit the content

Protected Wikis Visible to the public, but can be changed only by authorized users (like library staff)

Public Wikis Available to anyone

Selecting the Right Wiki Three ways to set up a Wiki Use a free Wiki hosting site (PBWiki) Pay to have your Wiki hosted (SeedWiki) Set up a Wiki on your own server (MediaWiki)

Selecting the Right Wiki Use Wiki Matrix to compare the different options Read the article ‘Which Wiki is Right for You?’

Free Wiki Hosting Sites PBWiki WikiSpaces Wet Paint Wikia PikiWiki (for kids)

Wiki Software TiddlyWiki ProWiki MediaWiki

Creating a Wiki – Step 1 Go to http://www.pbwiki.com add a site name, your email, and the type of Wiki

Creating a Wiki – Step 2 Follow the directions – open your email

Creating a Wiki – Step 3 Read your email and follow the directions

Creating a Wiki – Step 4 Add password, decide public/private, agree to terms

Creating a Wiki – Step 5 Click on the free version, view your Wiki!

Creating a Wiki – Step 6 Click on the Edit tab, type away, then SAVE

Creating a Wiki – Step 7 View your edited Wiki

Wikis for Schools

School Library Wikis Plymouth Regional HS Library Wiki E. Charleswood Junior High Library Wiki San Mateo HS Library Wiki New Hope-Solebury HS Library Wiki Rundlett MS Library Wiki

School Library Wikis DeWitt HS Library Wiki Decatur HS Library Wiki Edison HS Library Wiki Woodstown MS Library Wiki

Library News Wikis Lucy R. Welles Library – Library News Wiki Madison Library – Library News & Links Bull Run PL – Library Info

Library Reference Wikis Jackson District Lib. – Pathfinders Wiki St Joseph Co PL – Ref/Subject Guides Wiki Rancho Mirage PL – Staff Ref Desk Wiki Allen Co PL – Ask ACPL Wiki

Library Staff / Committee Wikis District 5 – Library Aide/LMT Wiki Albany Co PL – Library Staff Wiki Memphis PL – Online System Staff Training

Library Teen / Kids Wikis Portsmouth PL - Teen Readers Wiki Teen Lib Wiki (clearinghouse) Childrens Series Binder (clearinghouse)

Library Teen / Kids Wikis Lackawana Co Lib. System – Teen Leadership Committee Wiki (staff committee) Chesterfield PL – Teen Wiki Internet Public Library – Teen Poetry Wiki

Librarianship Wikis Library Success – A Best Practices Wiki Library Instruction Wiki Multimedia Librarian Wiki Sample Library Policies Wiki TeacherLibrarian Wiki

Library Conference Wikis ALA 2007 Conference Wiki YALSA Conference News Internet Librarian 2007 Conference Wiki

Professional Association Wikis ALA Interactive Web Applications Wiki ALSC “Kids @ Your Library” Wiki PLA/ALSC “Every Child Ready to Read” Wiki YALSA “Teen Read Week” Wiki

Librarian Wikis Librarian Chick Wiki Ambient Librarian Wiki The Shifted Librarian Wiki

Once You Have a Wiki… Teach folks to add & edit Wiki content Add links to popular Wikis to your website Make folks aware of your Wiki Write about it Add the URL to sigfiles / printed lib. pubs Hold classes for students/staff on Wiki basics

So What’s Next… Identify ways that a Wiki will help students Identify ways that a Wiki will help staff Identify ways that a Wiki will help parents/caregivers

Gail Junion-Metz Information Age Consultants 310 North Bridge Street DeWitt, MI 48820 (517) 668-2130 gail@iage.com http://www.iage.com