This document discusses Wikipedia and wikis. It defines a wiki as a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit web page content using any web browser. Wikipedia is introduced as a free, multilingual encyclopedia that anyone can edit. While articles are not refereed, Wikipedia should be used as a starting point for research. The document also discusses how wikis can be created and their use in university education and communication.

1. Wikipedia: the inside story
Presenter By: Syed Iftikhar Ali Shah

2. What is a Wiki?
The simplest online database that could possibly work
(‘wiki wiki’ means ‘rapidly’ in the Hawaiian language).
Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to
freely create and edit web page content using any web
browser.
Open editing encourages democratic use of the Web
and promotes content composition by non technical
users.

3. What is Wikipedia?
 A free content, multilingual encyclopedia
written collaboratively by contributors around
the world
 The site is a Wiki - anybody can edit and add
to an article. Offers quick understanding on
controversial issues. Strong in current affairs.
(Google search: define: Wikipedia)

5. What isn’t Wikipedia?
 It is not an archive (it was decided that
poems and other literary works were not
suited to Wikipedia)

6. Free?
 Free access (if you have the internet)
 Free speech (although it is vigilantly
checked)
 Freedom to:
– copy
– modify
– redistribute commercially or non commercially

7. Popularity
 9th most popular site on the internet; 6th in
Germany; 12th in India, Japan and Iran
 2.23% use cnn.com every day, 6.19% use
Wikipedia every day
 2005-6 there was a big jump in popularity

8. How good is Wikipedia?
 A study compared Wikipedia with
Encyclopedia Britannica
– Wikipedia had an average of 4 errors per article
and Britannica 3
– Wikipedia followed up on errors after the study,
whereas Britannica just got defensive (according
to Jimmy Wales)

9. How should it be used by students?
 RESA Online discusses this
www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learn/resaonline/
?
PATH=/Resources/LitReview/Methodology+i
n+the+social+sciences+and+humanities/&de
fault=Research+methodology+issues/Wikipe
dia+as+a+research+tool.htm
 Main point – articles are not refereed, so
Wikipedia should be a starting point only

10. How can you create a wiki?
Use some free software and web space
eg Wikispaces www.wikispaces.com/
‘Create simple web pages that groups, friends, and
families can edit together’
 Pick a username
 Set your password
 Enter your email address

11. Wikis in universities
1. Education
2. Communication
 UniSA courses – for student assessment and
resources eg Information Architecture and Design
 Boston College student wikia (Wikia offers free
MediaWiki hosting for your community to build a
free content wiki-based website)
 CaseWiki – an encyclopedic reference about Case
Western Reserve University and its surroundings
 More examples: School and university projects
(Wikipedia)