Wiki


 * What is a Wiki?**

A wiki is a web site that lets any visitor become a participant: you can create or edit the actual site contents without any special technical knowledge or tools. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection. A wiki is continuously “under revision.” It is a living collaboration whose purpose is the sharing of the creative process and product by many. One famous example is [|Wiki-pedia], an online encyclopedia with no “authors” but millions of contributors and editors. The word "wiki" comes from Hawaiian language, meaning "quick" or "fast."


 * How a Wiki Works**

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[|Wikis in the Classroom] Video by Vicki Davis


 * Advantages of a Wiki**
 * Anyone can edit
 * Easy to use and learn
 * Wikis are instantaneous so there is no need to wait for a publisher to create a new edition or update information
 * People located in different parts of the world can work on the same document
 * Wiki software keeps track of every edit made and it's a simple process to revert back to a previous version of an article
 * Widens access to the power of web publishingto non-technical users
 * Wiki has no predetermined structure - consequently it is a flexible tool which can be used for a wide range of applications


 * Disadvantages of a Wiki**
 * Anyone can edit so this may be too open for some applications, for example confidential documentation. However it is possible to regulate user access.
 * Open to SPAM and vandalism if not managed properly. There are easy ways to restore a page and you can set your wiki so that students have to log in to edit pages.
 * Requires Internet connectivity to collaborate.
 * The flexibility of a wiki's structure can mean that information becomes disorganised. As a wiki grows, the community plans and administers the structure collaboratively.

Wikispaces for Educators
 * Private(free for Educators) - Only wiki members can view and edit pages
 * No advertising
 * Unlimited number of pages and discussion posts
 * Create student accountsin bulk
 * Page histories -you can easily monitor the activity on your wiki
 * Determine who can access your wiki by setting your wiki permissions. Make it open to the public, protected from editing by non-members, or completely private.
 * Embed media