What is a Wiki?

The name Wiki comes from the Hawaiian term Wiki Wiki, which means quick. A Wiki is a type of Web page that allows anyone with an Internet connection to create and modify pages easily and quickly. This means that anyone that visits your Wiki will be able to create new pages and update your content whenever they desire. Opening a Web page to your visitors promotes user generated content and peer-to-peer learning.

Wiki software often uses toolbars similar to those found in word processors in their content editors, making for an easier learning curve and instant content updates.

Wikis can be used to:

• Encourage ownership of knowledge. They actively seek it, and they create it.
• Increase high-level critical thinking which is developed as participants critique others' contributions for accuracy.
• Increased information literacy skills are required as participants check their facts for accuracy and correct errors discovered by their peers.
• Create online lesson plans, assignments, calendar, and collaborative notes for training programs.
• Engage in collaborative projects with other employees and departments.

Watch this video for an explanation of Wikis in Plain English.




Examples:

Classroom 2.0 - http://www.classroom20wiki.com/
Technology review page - http://web20applications.wetpaint.com
Fan page - http://www.thegreysanatomywiki.com and http://miamisportscards.wetpaint.com
Travel - http://www.wikifido.com
Hobby - http://circlebackstudio.wetpaint.com


Resources:

• WetPaint Central
• Wikispaces Tour