Documentation:CTLT Instructional Technologies/Wikis
Wikis
Wikis are open online environments that allow any user viewing the website to instantly add, delete or change the text or structure of the page. By allowing readers to instantly become contributors, wikis are simply the fastest way to get text online. With the most basic wikis, anyone can post content from any Internet-enabled computer – no authoring tool is required.
Wikis are used at UBC to maintain an ongoing list of resources, to post meeting agendas and notes, or create spaces for brainstorming and composition. They can also make exceptionally useful collaborative writing spaces, and it’s easy to get started with your own wiki in a matter of minutes. The simplicity and flexibility of a wiki ensures they may serve just about any purpose that requires speed, ease of use, and collaboration.
UBC Wiki
UBC Wiki is CWL-enabled MediaWiki installation. It is available for UBC community to use for whatever purpose, whether it be teaching and learning, research, or community engagement. It is loosely divided in four main spaces (Namespaces as MediaWiki people like to call it):
- Course (sample URL: http://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:ABCD101): for course related materials and activities
- Documentation (sample URL: http://wiki.ubc.ca/Documentation:Your_Manual_Goes_Here): for all kinds of manuals and support documents
- Reference (sample URL: http://wiki.ubc.ca/Reference:WhateverTerm): UBC dictionary or UBCpedia – (to be further polished)
- Main name space: anything in the root of the wiki – use it as you like!
Want to learn more? Visit the http://wiki.ubc.ca or watch the UBC Wiki Tour video below:
Also, check out this three minute video by Common Craft that explains what a wiki is as well as the Educause 7 Things You Should Know About Wikis.