Wikis

Wikis were discussed in our last class.  It means super fast in the Hawaiin language and is a Web 2.0 tool collaboration.  It reminded me of another Hawaiin word I know "Keanu" which means cool breeze blowing over mountain. ;-)

It is a web application that allows uers to add content, but also allows uers anyone to edit the content.  This can be done because it is internet based.  They are also hypertext based because it is available on the internet.  Wikis use collaborative software, most of the wiki software is free of charege, and enables documents to be authored collectively using a web browser.  People are allowed to share knowledge and harness the collective intelligence.  Team members are able to share knowledge simply and quickly. 

If we create an open wiki anyone can view it,and if we invite people they can edit the information as well.  Users can track changes made to pages, and have alerts sent to them via email letting them know when others have made changes.

Talk pages can be used to discuss differences, while the user talk pages communicate directly with other users or leave them messages.

Some advantages of wikis over books are that wikis are updateable, information can be conveyed more easily through interlinking, and it is also more collaborative.  The main disadvantage is that quality control is an issue.

Overall, wikis are a great way of sharing, learning and adding to information.