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Transcript of 1 Wikis in Practice: Practical Applications of Wikis in the Workplace Maryland Library Association...
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Wikis in Practice:Practical Applications of Wikis in the WorkplaceMaryland Library Association
Annual Conference, 2008
Danielle Whren,
Loyola Notre Dame Library
Katy Sullivan,
Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery, UMBC
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Wiki Overview
“A type of web page designed so that its content can be edited by anyone who accesses it, using a simplified markup language” (OED Online)
Wikipedia – www.wikipedia.org Wiktionary – www.wiktionary.org Wikitravel – www.wikitravel.org WikiIndex – www.wikiindex.org
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Characteristic Wiki Features
Editing Comments History Recent Activity RSS Feed Search (Sandbox)
www.mlawikipresentation.pbwiki.com
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Wikis and Library 2.0 Applying Web 2.0 technologies and practices in
a library setting Web 2.0 – the Web as “platform”
Technologies associated with Web 2.0: Social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace) Social bookmarking and tagging (de.lic.ious) Media sharing (Flickr, YouTube) RSS feeds Mashups Blogs Wikis
Of these tools, wikis are the most suited for text collaboration, appropriate for multiple authors working on the same document.
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Value in Using Wikis
Facilitates collaboration in creating work Eases information sharing Easy to learn Inexpensive Requires just Internet access to use and alter Instantaneous updating not reliant on one
person Searchable
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Workplace Benefits Include:
Simplified document management Establishment of institutional memory Growth in collaborative work Increased staff feedback / “voice” Improved customer service
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Considerations in Choosing a Wiki
Locally Hosted Data and wiki files stored locally Customizable No space limitations Requires technical expertise and time Examples: MediaWiki, PMWiki
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Considerations in Choosing a Wiki
Hosted Service Hosted on creating company’s server Little customization available Space limitations Little technical expertise needed Examples: PBWiki, WetPaint
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Question for Attendees
Please let us know if you have every used Wiki Matrix by giving a thumbs up/thumbs down.
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Considerations in Building a Wiki
Have goals Solicit input Project selection Structure Access Documentation
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Considerations in Maintaining a Wiki
Appoint a wiki “gardener” Make it easy to use and low risk Promotion and Marketing Training opportunities Ensure objectivity and fairness Issues of ownership and copyright
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Examples of Library Uses
Internally Schedules To-do lists Logins & Passwords Directory/Contact Information Policies & Procedures Document Repository Projects Committee/Team sites
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Examples of Library Uses
Externally Research Guides Collaboration with patrons Collaboration with other libraries/librarians
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Question for Attendees
Can you think of a specific use for a wiki in your library? Please share with everyone in the chat room.
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Example from Loyola Notre Dame Library ResearchWiki
Why MediaWiki? Wanted to host locally Free Open Source Software Stable platform WYSIWYG editor No space limit Lots of good documentation
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Example from Loyola Notre Dame Library ResearchWiki
Security No account creation necessary Appointed staff member to check wiki for
spam or inappropriate content
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Example from Loyola Notre Dame Library ResearchWiki
Wiki Content Meebo widget Subject guides Tutorials and help guides Information on course assignments Answers to frequently asked reference
questions
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UMBC Library Wikis in Blackboard
Internal projects and documents – necessary login not an issue
Very secure Branding/customizing not important Familiarity Permanence
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Wiki Examples in Reference
New employee training manual Committee/group workspace
Brainstorming, collaborative writing, planning documents, repository
Peer training archive Instructions and protocols
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Library-Wide Wiki Examples
Library Assembly space Archive of agendas and minutes, planning
discussions, feedback forum Cheers Committee space
Event planning
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Issues that Have Arisen
Mixed levels of participation Multiple locations of saved attachments /
multiple versions of documents
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Benefits We’ve Seen
Real collaboration Better management of and access to
documents More efficient committee and group work Greater awareness and tracking of work
output
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Where We’re Going
Moving content to Confluence Wiki Including “fun” projects to increase
participation