Wikis

[Robbi De Peri]

Aloha! Welcome to the wonderful island of Wiki Wiki where one finds a “virtual” paradise. The word “Wiki” is the Hawaiian word for “quick.” And “quick” it is! Although a Wiki has the look and feel of a traditional web site, it actually is an application that allows all users to create and edit web content without the use of fancy software or expertise. If one can create a word document, one can create wiki content.

Share your comments, wiki experiences and ideas here in the Wiki forum!

As is our usual routine, check out our lesson to the left and post in our forum below!

Special thanks to our subject specialist of the week: Susan Jennings with help from Robbi De Peri.

[Michelle Nielsen Ott]

I love making Wikis. They are so useful. Currently I update one wiki for the Communications Committee at work. I also made this wiki last spring for my reference class' final http://digitalreference.pbworks.com/Digref-1

I really like pbworks. If I ever need to start a wiki, I will go to them first.

[Susan Jennings]

Thanks for sharing that, Michelle... Wikis are great things and really can make the work of a committee more efficient and effective. We utilized a wiki through pbwiki when I was in a Strategic Planning subgroup. And, as Robbi said, we also studied for comps with a wiki.

[Melissa Reynolds]

Thanks to Michelle's post, I used pbworks to set up my wiki. Prior to ordering my materials for the year, I always ask the teachers to give me any titles they would like to see in the library. So, thought I'd do it using a wiki this year. I don't know if any of them will want to take the time to set up an account or not. However, I think it would be a great tool for teachers to see what I've planned to order as well as what other teachers requested.
http://keystonelibrary.pbworks.com/FrontPage#

[Susan Jennings]

This is a great idea for wiki usage! Let us know how that works for you!

[Teresa Threet]

I love this idea! Thank you! I am setting up a wikispaces page (FREE!!!) and I hope I can do the same. Of course, like you, I have to worry that many teachers will not set up an account. It's certainly worth a try! :-)

[Melissa Reynolds]

I am not receiving a lot of response from my staff but our district is in the middle of some BIG changes so I can't blame them if this is too much.

However, I'd love to open this up to all of the TENN-SHARE community. Let me know what books you think would be great for a PreK-5 library in Memphis, TN.

http://keystonelibrary.pbworks.com/FrontPage

[Teresa Threet]

I can definitely understand about all the stuff your (Memphis) teachers have thrown at them! It seems like every time a principal or BOE member goes to a meeting or conference, they bring back more things our teachers must do -while they are trying to cover all the spi's. So, any time I offer any new technology, they tend to balk. I do feel for them. They are great teachers! I just wish they could realize how much of this technology would lighten their loads -once they learn to use it. I'll just keep sharing and helping in any way I can! I'm about to check out your wiki! Hope I can contribute.

[Sally Raye]

I have never done a Wiki before. Therefore I stuck to a library standard tool: the bibliography. I chose the topic, "deafness' because our library has a great service for the hearing impaired.

My url is: http://writingsondeafness.wikispaces.com

[Susan Jennings]

Wonderful! Keep on Wiki'ing Sally!

[Sally Raye]

Susan,

Thank you for introducing the wiki concept so clearly. Your expertise is appreciated.

[Susan Jennings]

You are most welcomed, Sally! Anytime! Wikis were my first social networking love... and you know what they say about your first love! ;-) You never get over it! Take care!

[Beth Sanderbeck]

The library system for which I work uses several wikis. I don't find that it gets used a lot by all staff as it is challenging to get to and not a lot of explanation is offered on how to get to it. I also think it is not accessed much as my system is severely understaffed and hampered by a hiring freeze, so most of us don't have the time to spend on it. But it is pretty useful once you get there.

Unfortunately when it comes to setting up a wiki of my own, I'm somewhat stymied. The wiki video gave me the idea to set up a wiki for my friends as we recently went through the flurry of emails described in the video. Since I'm familiar with PBWorks, I laid the groundwork for such a wiki, but am going to wait to make sure I have everyone's okay with it. So should I set up a wiki to discuss whether we should have a wiki?!!!

Loved the list of all the wikis out there - I had no idea and have bookmarked a few to check out later.