Web 2.0 Easier, faster, friendlier

Thing 10 – Wikis

1.Thing 10: Wikis: Webcam Conversation

What is a Wiki?

A wiki is a type of easily editable web site.

It can be used by just one person to store private information, or opened up so thousands of can create a site together.

Wikipedia is the most famous wiki – but they are used in many other ways too.
Does it mean that we are showing people how to create an online encyclopedia?

Only if you want to!!!!!

Why are we learning about Wikis?

Wikis can be used by a group to plan an event, by students to collaborate to work on an assignment. Wikis are used to create procedure manuals or class handouts or keep a record of recipes.

You can embed videos and images and slideshows in them too.

How you can use a wiki:

• Document something you do in your job that others would have to know if you won lotto and had to leave work for a life of luxury.
• A page about a hobby or passion
• Plan a holiday and link to useful accommodation sites, places of interest, an itinerary etc
• Collaborate with another participant to make a wiki together  (Examples of collaboration: To give you an idea, here’s Kathryn’s example wiki, libkat or can be multiple pages see: Printed Legal Resources in WA Law Libraries).
• Make a page linking to sites you visit often for 14 Things and add to it in the next few weeks (eg. 14 Things blog,  your own blog, other participant blogs you read)
• Other examples of wikis – http://www.publicpbwikis.com/

Private or Public access? Can everyone see the wikis I create?

No, You decide how open or closed you want your wiki to be:

• You can set it up so that only people who write the wiki can see it, or
• You can set it up that everyone can see it online, but only some people can edit it, or
• It can be open so that anyone can see it and edit it.

This short 4 minute video gives you a fun introduction to the art and value of wikis Commoncraft explanation of wikis in Plain English (Video – duration approx 4 minutes)

What you need to do to complete this Thing

1. Set up a wiki using PBWorks

2. Post a link to your wiki from your blog

How to set up your wiki

Decide what you want to use a wiki for! If you can’t think of anything, use it to list your five favourite holiday destinations.
We are using software called PBWorks. It takes about 2 minutes to set up your wiki and send a confirming email to your account.  Once it is set up you can spend as much time as you like making it as simple or complex as the “wiki” requires.

We will use the workshop time to create your wiki.

Step by Step instructions

HOW TO SET UP A PROFILE AND GET YOUR FIRST WIKI

1. Start at the page where you can get a free wiki at PBWorks (PBWorks tends to hide this page, so please see below for how to get to this page from the home page) .
2. Here is an example screenshot with the information you will need to enter.

3. The URL (web address) you set up is the one which will “for-ever more” stay with your wiki.  So think this through carefully!  Capital letters do not work.

4. Select the type of wiki you are setting up – fill in the forms.  You can change access settings later – see below.

5. Open your email account in another browser.  You will get a confirmation email.

6. Click on the link in the email  to finalize the set up of your wiki:

7. Choose security settings and accept Terms of Service:

EDIT YOUR WIKI

Edit the front page of your wiki using the EDIT button.   The editor is nearly WYSIWYG – and uses code similar to html in the background.

1. Save the changes to your front page.
2. Save your work.

____________________________________________________

If you want more:

Add images – use the links  in the right panel of the wiki.

Insert one link to an external web site in your page. (This clip shows you how to do this in an older version of the wiki: Atomic Learning PBwiki – Screencast 1 in Part C Working with PBwiki).

Edit the front page and set up some other pages on your wiki.

Add information/pages/links to it.

Decide who you want to  share your wiki with others in the class or anyone else!

Here’s how to find the “get a wiki” page from the front page of PBWorks:

A bit more wiki stuff:

Change access to your wiki.

Decide who can see the wiki you create.  Your options are to make it visible to everyone, or just by invitation, and in the same way you can limit those who can edit your pages as you choose.  Do this in the wiki by going to Settings > access controls security.

More information about setting up your wiki:

SCREENCAST video clips – these are a bit old in that PBwiki has had an upgrade and is now PBWorks with a few extra “bells and whistles”  However these 2 minute screen casts from Richard Marchessault Creating a PBwiki site, accessible at the Atomic Learning PBwiki – Wiki workshop will still be useful for some people. It is screencast 3 in Part B – choosing and setting up a wiki. The other screencasts tell you about other features of wikis in general and of PBwiki in particular.

Other free wiki sites:Try creating a wiki at one of these fee wiki sites: Wikispaces, Wetpaint ,  Netcipia ,  Moinmoin .

Be Sociable, Share!

•