Wikis
From Acorn
Wiki means "quick" or "fast" in Hawaiian. A wiki is a type of website that allows users to easily add and edit content and is especially suited for collaborative writing. A wiki enables documents to be written collectively in a simple markup using a web browser.
A single page in a wiki is referred to as a "wiki page", while the entire body of pages, which are usually interconnected via hyperlinks, is "the wiki"; in effect, a very simple database. A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. Generally, there is no review before modifications are accepted. Edits can be made in real-time, and appear instantaneously online. Wikis also have excellent versioning control. Every change is documented, you can see who made the change, when, and what was changed.
Wikitext language or wiki markup is a markup language that offers a simplified alternative to HTML and is used to write pages in wiki websites. Wikitext is text in this language. There is no commonly accepted standard wikitext language. The grammar, structure, features, keywords and so on are dependent on the particular wiki software used on the particular website. This wiki runs on MediaWiki software, the same as ConnWiki and Wikipedia . MediaWiki is used by many sites.
Athough complex HTML works in a wiki, it is better to keep the formatting simple. Considerable use of HTML will slow a wiki down and its use should be limited. Images, audio files, and video files can be uploaded to a wiki and used.
It is suggested you do not use the automatic formatting toolbar at first, but learn the wiki markup. For more,see:
Wikis promote Knowledge Building
Using wiki in education, informative site, also links to a wiki
PBwiki on education, Brief summary of ideas, created in PBWiki.
Using Wikis for Learning, Washington State University
What is a wiki With good tips on how to use one.
Wikis in Education Conference Aug. 5, 2006, Cambridge, MA
Wikis can be either hosted locally, on one's own servers, or remotely, such as PBwiki, below.
Examples of wikis used in education
At Connecticut College
- 4 Other wikis under development
Other institutions:
The Science of Spectroscopy go to their wiki from this web page
Auburn University School of Architecture
Drexel College of Arts and Sciences
University of Mary Washington and Another UMW wiki
flatplanet. A high school wiki, but well done. Example of the hosted Wikispaces service.
Other Wiki Information
Wikipatterns, ideas on how to improve and manage wikis
Web 2.0 Online Learning Film Festival
Wikinomics, mostly business-related, but provides a link to and example of Social Text
The 33 best wikis! from Eastwikkers
Other wiki and group collaboration software
Confluence is one of the better-regarded commercial wiki software packages. It can be expanded with Adaptavist solutions.
PBwiki is becoming popular, see the "Rhetoric and Composition" wiki above, created with it. One of the better hosted wikis. We have an account if you want to try it out.
Wikispaces is a hosted wiki where you can easily build web pages with other people. Free.
Wikidot.com looks like a fun new up-and-comer, Web 2.0ish
clearspace, another up-and-comer...a bit more than a wiki
Wetpaint, A Hosted Wiki
JotSpot, A hosted wiki, geared to business users, but may also be fine for educational purposes. Purchased by Google, it is now being "revamped".
DocuWiki is a nice simple wiki.
twiki looks nice
Socialtext Business environment wiki with some nice features
Stikipad, A Hosted Wiki
Business wikis that may work for education
Open Source Wikis (Nov 4, 2004), updated July 2006
Top Ten Wiki Engines (May 30, 2006, but leaves out some of the new hosted ones)
Elgg an open source, wiki-like learning platform
Wikia, a collection of wiki communities, now over 1,500
Content Management Systems can be used to create wikis and weblogs
MediaWiki Help
Creating a new wiki on this server (nutmeg.conncoll.edu)
Training videos, and another link to them
Where to get PHP, MySQL, etc. for OSX
User Rights, Preventing Access
To prevent anonymous users from reading anything other that the main page edit LocalSettings.php as follows:
# Disable reading line, for anonymous (not-logged-in => * ) : $wgGroupPermissions['*']['read'] = false; # ... and enable anonymous to read the followings pages : $wgWhitelistRead = array( "Main Page", "Special:Userlogin", "-", "MediaWiki:Monobook.css" );Mike
Misc. Wiki Stuff
wiki how to, a wiki on making things
Customizing MediaWiki
Gallery of user styles in MediaWiki
layout customization and more on layout customization
A clean wiki...Beagle and download the skin
The Misty Look Skin, nice!
Good layout ideas I tried them here. Make sure you see the templates
Thank you teveepedia! Temporary use under fair use guidelines, for educational purposes, will delete if requested
The Mozilla Developer Site is created in MediaWiki, Wiki Markup at Mozilla, nice skin!
Another Mozilla Wiki, good layout
change the background color in the MediaWiki User Forum
MySkin concept more info on headers [1] and [2] and [3] and good at [4]
Customizing the layout and MediaWiki tips including [5]
Customizing the layout, some links to good examples, with a few ideas
good layout tested here2, need to upload images, thanks HOSEF!
layout idea with sidebar template
Wikia ACG on Wikia.com http://wikia.com/wiki/Wikia_ACG
