Introducing wiki… …a tool for collaboration Online Northwest Conference, January 21, 2005 Kate Rubick and Mark Dahl Watzek Library, Lewis & Clark College

The task at hand: At a professor’s request, devise a mechanism to allow two classes of 20 first-year students create a shared list of resources on the Constitutional Convention.

What had been done before: In previous years the professor had created an list group so students could share resources as they found them. The results had been unsuccessful.

Why wiki? wikis allow multiple authors to collaborate on a document. wikis allow multiple authors to collaborate on a document. Open source software is available for wiki setup. Open source software is available for wiki setup. The wiki interface is user-friendly. The wiki interface is user-friendly. Introducing students to wiki segues into a larger discussion on evaluating sources. Introducing students to wiki segues into a larger discussion on evaluating sources.

"wiki” is Hawai'ian for “quick.” The first wiki, created by Ward Cunningham in , still runs today: The first wiki, created by Ward Cunningham in , still runs today: One popular (and controversial) wiki: One popular (and controversial) wiki: hint: try searching the term “wiki” in Wikipedia. A Web bibliography on wikis is WikiBibliography at: A Web bibliography on wikis is WikiBibliography at:

What is a wiki? What is not a wiki? Blogs Blogs –Personal publishing device for a single author Forums or bulletin boards Forums or bulletin boards –Support discussions among multiple people about a particular topic or “thread”

wiki wikis allow multiple authors to collaborate on a document wikis allow multiple authors to collaborate on a document Several people can write, edit, delete and rewrite content on the same page Several people can write, edit, delete and rewrite content on the same page Good for collaborative projects—working documents Good for collaborative projects—working documents

wiki attributes A page needs to be linked to exist A page needs to be linked to exist Simple editing rules/simple styling Simple editing rules/simple styling –Italic –Bold –Links –Images Let’s enter the LC wiki Let’s enter the LC wikiLC wikiLC wiki

Just click edit

…and then edit

wiki style Our wiki software has a variety of visual styles to chose from that apply to the whole wiki Our wiki software has a variety of visual styles to chose from that apply to the whole wiki –Hawaiian (soothing images) –MacOS –Space –Etc.

How to setup a wiki Lots of open source wiki software packages Lots of open source wiki software packages –Download code for PHP, Perl, ASP.NET, Python, Java –We use PHPwiki Another alternative is a hosted wiki service such as Another alternative is a hosted wiki service such as

Teachable Moments Each section came into the library for an instruction session one hour in length. Each section came into the library for an instruction session one hour in length. The purpose of the instruction: prepare students for doing college-level library research on the Constitutional Convention. prepare students for doing college-level library research on the Constitutional Convention. Show students how to use the wiki. Show students how to use the wiki.

Accessing the wiki from the Watzek Library site… Start at

Find the Research Guide for Inventing America…

And then locate the pathfinder for their class…

The wiki requires login authentication…

The first screen you see when entering the wiki…

The wiki before the students began editing…

The simplest assessment tool: a blank index card Each student was asked to fill out a card at the end of the instruction session. On one side they wrote what they learned or something they liked about this session. On one side they wrote what they learned or something they liked about this session. The other side was to describe something they wished had been covered or other suggestions for improvements. The other side was to describe something they wished had been covered or other suggestions for improvements.

The responses varied… “The information about the wiki tool was explained very well and was really useful.” “I am seriously confused about the wiki.” Of 29 responses, 21 indicated that they thought the class had sufficiently prepared them to use the wiki tool.

The finished product: resources were entered, somewhat haphazardly, into the wiki. 71 resources were entered, somewhat haphazardly, into the wiki. Almost all 80 students contributed 2 resources. The professor said that all students contributed at least one resource. Almost all 80 students contributed 2 resources. The professor said that all students contributed at least one resource. Both the students and the librarian (albeit for different reasons) had problems adhering to the concepts of Wabi Sabi! Both the students and the librarian (albeit for different reasons) had problems adhering to the concepts of Wabi Sabi!

The success of the project: In a survey with 30 responses, 19 said they used the wiki to complete research for their final paper. 16 said they used sources they discovered in the wiki in their final bibliography. In a survey with 30 responses, 19 said they used the wiki to complete research for their final paper. 16 said they used sources they discovered in the wiki in their final bibliography. In that survey, when asked to rate the wiki for ease of use between 1 and 5 (with 5 being easiest), 20 gave it a rating of 4 or 5. In that survey, when asked to rate the wiki for ease of use between 1 and 5 (with 5 being easiest), 20 gave it a rating of 4 or 5. The professor said that the final papers she received were 2/3 better than those received the previous year. The professor said that the final papers she received were 2/3 better than those received the previous year.

Additional technical info PHP wiki was easy to setup because PHP wiki was easy to setup because –Works with Open Source databases such as MySQL and PostGreSQL –Integrates with LDAP for authentication. This is very helpful when using the application among students

Integrated with Internet technologies RSS Feeds RSS Feeds XHTML downloads XHTML downloads

Thoughts for future projects: Consider wiki collaboration projects for upper-level students. Consider wiki collaboration projects for upper-level students. Aim for small groups. Aim for small groups. Carefully design how the wiki will be organized and make organizing the information a requisite for project participants. Carefully design how the wiki will be organized and make organizing the information a requisite for project participants.

References: Chang, May. “I’ve Gathered a Basket of Communication and Collaboration Tools.” Computers in Libraries 24:8 (September 2004), pp Overview of Weblogs, Forums, wikis and Instant Messaging. Mattison, David. “Quickiwiki, Swiki, Twiki, Zwiki and the Plone Wars.” Searcher 11:2 (April 2003), pp In-depth article, includes a glossary of wiki terminology. Waldman, Simon. “Who Knows?” The Guardian, London, Final edition (October 26, 2004), p. 2. Nice article on wikipedia.