Introducing wiki…Introducing wiki……a tool for collaboration…a tool for collaborationOnline Northwest Conference, January 21, 2005Online Northwest Conference, January 21, 2005

Kate Rubick and Mark DahlKate Rubick and Mark Dahl

Watzek Library, Lewis & Clark CollegeWatzek Library, Lewis & Clark Collegerubick@lclark.edurubick@lclark.edu, , dahl@lclark.edudahl@lclark.edu

http://www.lclark.edu/~dahl/presentations/http://www.lclark.edu/~dahl/presentations/

The task at hand:The task at hand:

At a professor’s request, devise a At a professor’s request, devise a mechanism to allow two classes of mechanism to allow two classes of 20 first-year students create a 20 first-year students create a shared list of resources on the shared list of resources on the Constitutional Convention.Constitutional Convention.

What had been done before:What had been done before:

In previous years the professor had In previous years the professor had created an email list group so created an email list group so students could share resources as students could share resources as they found them. they found them.

The results had been unsuccessful.The results had been unsuccessful.

Why wiki?Why wiki?

• wikis allow multiple authors to wikis allow multiple authors to collaborate on a document.collaborate on a document.

• Open source software is available for Open source software is available for wiki setup.wiki setup.

• The wiki interface is user-friendly.The wiki interface is user-friendly.

• Introducing students to wiki segues Introducing students to wiki segues into a larger discussion on evaluating into a larger discussion on evaluating sources.sources.

"wiki”"wiki” is Hawai'ian for “quick.”is Hawai'ian for “quick.”

• The first wiki, created by Ward Cunningham in The first wiki, created by Ward Cunningham in 1994-95, still runs today:1994-95, still runs today:

http://c2.com/cgi-bin/wiki?wikiwikiWebhttp://c2.com/cgi-bin/wiki?wikiwikiWeb

• One popular (and controversial) wiki:One popular (and controversial) wiki:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Pagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Pagehint: try searching the term “wiki” in Wikipedia.hint: try searching the term “wiki” in Wikipedia.

• A Web bibliography on wikis is WikiBibliography at:A Web bibliography on wikis is WikiBibliography at:www.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/wikiBib.htmwww.public.iastate.edu/~CYBERSTACKS/wikiBib.htm

What is a wiki? What is not a What is a wiki? What is not a wiki?wiki?

• BlogsBlogs– Personal publishing device for a single Personal publishing device for a single

authorauthor

• Forums or bulletin boardsForums or bulletin boards– Support discussions among multiple Support discussions among multiple

people about a particular topic or people about a particular topic or “thread”“thread”

wikiwiki

• wikis allow multiple authors to wikis allow multiple authors to collaborate on a documentcollaborate on a document

• Several people can write, edit, delete Several people can write, edit, delete and rewrite content on the same and rewrite content on the same pagepage

• Good for collaborative projects—Good for collaborative projects—working documentsworking documents

wiki attributeswiki attributes

• A page needs to be linked to existA page needs to be linked to exist

• Simple editing rules/simple stylingSimple editing rules/simple styling– ItalicItalic– BoldBold– LinksLinks– ImagesImages

• Let’s enter the Let’s enter the LC LC wikiwiki

Just click editJust click edit

……and then editand then edit

wiki stylewiki style

• Our wiki software has a variety of Our wiki software has a variety of visual styles to chose from that apply visual styles to chose from that apply to the whole wikito the whole wiki– Hawaiian (soothing images)Hawaiian (soothing images)– MacOSMacOS– SpaceSpace– Etc.Etc.

How to setup a wikiHow to setup a wiki

• Lots of open source wiki software Lots of open source wiki software packagespackages– Download code for PHP, Perl, ASP.NET, Download code for PHP, Perl, ASP.NET,

Python, JavaPython, Java– We use PHPwikiWe use PHPwiki

• Another alternative is a hosted wiki Another alternative is a hosted wiki service such as service such as http://http://editme.comeditme.com

Teachable MomentsTeachable Moments

Each section came into the library for Each section came into the library for an instruction session one hour in an instruction session one hour in length. length.

The purpose of the instructionThe purpose of the instruction::• prepare students for doing college-prepare students for doing college-

level library research on the level library research on the Constitutional Convention.Constitutional Convention.

• Show students how to use the wiki.Show students how to use the wiki.

Accessing the wiki from the Watzek Library Accessing the wiki from the Watzek Library site…site…

Start at Start at http://library.lclark.eduhttp://library.lclark.edu

Find the Research Guide for Inventing Find the Research Guide for Inventing America…America…

And then locate the pathfinder for their And then locate the pathfinder for their class…class…

The wiki requires login authentication…The wiki requires login authentication…

The first screen you see when entering the The first screen you see when entering the wiki…wiki…

The wiki before the students began editing…The wiki before the students began editing…

The simplest assessment tool:The simplest assessment tool:a blank index carda blank index card

Each student was asked to fill out a card Each student was asked to fill out a card at the end of the instruction session.at the end of the instruction session.

• On one side they wrote what they learned On one side they wrote what they learned or something they liked about this or something they liked about this session.session.

• The other side was to describe something The other side was to describe something they wished had been covered or other they wished had been covered or other suggestions for improvements.suggestions for improvements.

The responses varied…The responses varied…

““The information about the wiki tool was The information about the wiki tool was explained very well and was really useful.”explained very well and was really useful.”

““I am seriously confused about the wiki.”I am seriously confused about the wiki.”

Of 29 responses, 21 indicated that they Of 29 responses, 21 indicated that they thought the class had sufficiently prepared thought the class had sufficiently prepared them to use the wiki tool.them to use the wiki tool.

The finished product:The finished product:http://library.lclark.edu/dynamic/wikihttp://library.lclark.edu/dynamic/wiki

• 71 resources were entered, somewhat 71 resources were entered, somewhat haphazardly, into the wiki.haphazardly, into the wiki.

• Almost all 80 students contributed 2 Almost all 80 students contributed 2 resources. The professor said that all resources. The professor said that all students contributed at least one students contributed at least one resource.resource.

• Both the students and the librarian (albeit Both the students and the librarian (albeit for different reasons) had problems for different reasons) had problems adhering to the concepts of Wabi Sabi!adhering to the concepts of Wabi Sabi!

The success of the project:The success of the project:

• In a survey with 30 responses, 19 said they In a survey with 30 responses, 19 said they used the wiki to complete research for their used the wiki to complete research for their final paper. 16 said they used sources they final paper. 16 said they used sources they discovered in the wiki in their final discovered in the wiki in their final bibliography.bibliography.

• In that survey, when asked to rate the wiki for In that survey, when asked to rate the wiki for ease of use between 1 and 5 (with 5 being ease of use between 1 and 5 (with 5 being easiest), 20 gave it a rating of 4 or 5.easiest), 20 gave it a rating of 4 or 5.

• The professor said that the final papers she The professor said that the final papers she received were 2/3 better than those received received were 2/3 better than those received the previous year. the previous year.

Additional technical infoAdditional technical info

• PHP wiki was easy to setup becausePHP wiki was easy to setup because– Works with Open Source databases such Works with Open Source databases such

as MySQL and PostGreSQLas MySQL and PostGreSQL– Integrates with LDAP for authentication. Integrates with LDAP for authentication.

This is very helpful when using the This is very helpful when using the application among studentsapplication among students

Integrated with Internet Integrated with Internet technologiestechnologies

• RSS FeedsRSS Feeds

• XHTML downloadsXHTML downloads

Thoughts for future Thoughts for future projects:projects:

• Consider wiki collaboration projects Consider wiki collaboration projects for upper-level students.for upper-level students.

• Aim for small groups.Aim for small groups.

• Carefully design how the wiki will be Carefully design how the wiki will be organized and make organizing the organized and make organizing the information a requisite for project information a requisite for project participants.participants.

References:References:

Chang, May. “I’ve Gathered a Basket of Communication and Chang, May. “I’ve Gathered a Basket of Communication and Collaboration Tools.” Collaboration Tools.” Computers in LibrariesComputers in Libraries 24:8 24:8 (September 2004), pp. 6-11.(September 2004), pp. 6-11.

Overview of Weblogs, Forums, wikis and Instant Messaging.Overview of Weblogs, Forums, wikis and Instant Messaging.

Mattison, David. “Quickiwiki, Swiki, Twiki, Zwiki and the Plone Mattison, David. “Quickiwiki, Swiki, Twiki, Zwiki and the Plone Wars.” Wars.” SearcherSearcher 11:2 (April 2003), pp. 32-48. 11:2 (April 2003), pp. 32-48.

In-depth article, includes a glossary of wiki terminology.In-depth article, includes a glossary of wiki terminology.

Waldman, Simon. “Who Knows?” Waldman, Simon. “Who Knows?” The Guardian, London, Final The Guardian, London, Final edition edition (October 26, 2004), p. 2. (October 26, 2004), p. 2.

Nice article on wikipedia.Nice article on wikipedia.