Wiki 101

Wikis 101
A simple discussion of a simple topic

What is a Wiki?
A wiki is a web page that you can edit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY&feature=player_embedded

If you can use
and
Then you can use a wiki.

Why are wiki’s interesting?
Because other people can edit them too
And then the wiki can represent the sum of what all the participants know…

Why Wiki?: Collaborate and Publish
We wiki to aggregate information from a group of people
We can keep it to ourselves, or publish it broadly

10 uses for wikis
1. team roster
2. document organizer
3. resource collection
4. issues list
5. FAQ
6. Plan and organize
7. Brainstorming
8. Build a portfolio
9. Wiki is the document
10. A living knowledge base

Team roster

Document Organizer

Resource collection

Issues List

FAQ

Plan and Organize

Brainstorm

Portfolio

Wiki is the Document

Knowledge Base

Important feature considerations
Commenting
Versioning
Permissions
Indexing, linking, media handling

But collaboration isn’t a technology
Just like the game isn’t about the ball.

What is collaboration?
Creative
Coordination toward specific goals
Connective
Ensuring like finds like
Compounding
Ensuring Present finds past

Fostering Wiki-based Collaboration
Goals
As with everything, its easier to gain cooperation and get quality results when you are very precise about the purpose of the wiki
Team
It helps to have a good team. Choose them and/or cultivate your esprit de corps carefully.
Trust/Respect
Needs to be built. Show leadership by consulting others on issues where you aren’t certain.
Sharing
Studies confirm – early sharing leads to better collaboration.
If you wait too long, you become too invested in the work to be open to feedback.
Recognize contributions
Be sure to recognize and give credit for contributions.
The best way to win trust, loyalty and added effort is to do the simplest things
Say thanks
Point out the idea’s originator, if clear.
Leadership
Leadership is ever more important in collaborative environments, because its essential that everyone shares the same goals and objectives
Weeding and pruning.
A little investment pays off.

What is Leadership?
Coordination of Activity
Standards, consistency and compliance
Problem identification and resolution
Informed decision-making
Learning on the fly
Situational awareness

So is a wiki enough?

Resources
www.wikispaces.com
Wikidot
Pbwiki
Opentext.com

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Email: dlavoy@opentext.com