by Rachel Gogan
What exactly is a wiki? Well, the Wikipedia says that a wiki is:
a collection of web pages designed to enable anyone who accesses it to contribute or modify content, using a simplified markup language. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites. The collaborative encyclopedia, Wikipedia, is one of the best-known wikis. Wikis are used in business to provide intranets and Knowledge Management systems. Ward Cunningham, developer of the first wiki software, WikiWikiWeb, originally described it as ‘the simplest online database that could possibly work’.
From the Wikipedia page on Wikis.
So what does that mean in plain English? It means that a wiki is a website that’s set up so that anyone can change it. You can add things (like text or links or pictures), edit things (update a link or picture), and take things away (remove a picture that isn’t the right one).
Here’s another explanation in a You Tube video: Wikis in Plain English
The Wikipedia is one of the most famous wikis. However, to learn about Wikis, the wikipedia is a little bit too huge to use as a good teaching example. So to make it a little easier here’s a wiki that I created last semester for my coursework.
My Wiki – http://rgogan.wetpaint.com/
There isn’t very much on my wiki page because my wiki is very small. The most useful thing about it is probably the How to Edit a Wiki Page.
Wikis are great tools for collaborative efforts, like planning a trip, or making changes in a department or office. Many people can add content to a wiki without needing to know any complicated computer languages. Wet paint wikis also allow you to invite certain contributors and bar others (good it you’re working with a small group, like a committee, but also want to share the information with others). If you can type and you have an internet connection you can add to a wiki. It’s easier than ever with the myriad of wiki type pages online these days. The hardest part is choosing a subject to create your wiki about.
Check out this YouTube video to see a mini movie about WetPaint Wiki’s in particular: Wet Paint Wikis in Plain English
Got all that? Why not give it a shot. Try editing my wiki page. Or, try your hand at making one yourself. Go to Wetpaint.com and click on the big green ‘Go’ button. It’s easy! I promise.
Posted by Rachel Gogan 
