Wikipedia, the online open-community encyclopedia, is the largest and perhaps the most well known of these knowledge sharing tools. With the benefits that wikis provide, the use and popularity of these tools is exploding.
Some of the benefits that make wikis so attractive are:
- Anyone (registered or unregistered, if unrestricted) can add, edit or delete content.
- Tracking tools within wikis allow you to easily keep up on what been changed and by whom.
- Earlier versions of a page can be viewed and reinstated when needed.
- And users do not need to know HTML in order to apply styles to text or add and edit content. In most cases simple syntax structure is used.
As the use of wikis has grown over the last few years, libraries have begun to use them to collaborate and share knowledge.
Among their applications are pathfinder or subject guide wikis, book review wikis, conference wikis and even library best practices wikis.
Staff wikis are popular, replacing the more traditional staff Intranet that required an editor.
The AGLIN wiki is a good example of sharing information among members. Members are able to add and edit information via a login.
Activity
A popular free wiki site is PB Wiki. Explore the site and create your own wiki.Resources
Use these resources to learn more aboout wikis:
Resources
Wiki’s: A Beginner’s Look – an excellent short slide presentation that offers a short introduction and examples.
What is a Wiki? – Library Success wiki presentation
Using Wikis to Create Online Communities – a good overview of what a wiki is and how it can be used in libraries.
A Commoncraft YouTube video: Wikis in Plain English. Very informative.
7 things you should know about wikis - Fact sheet from the Education Department
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