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Background

15 一月, 2016 - 09:44

Wiki modifications are easy because the processes of reading and editing are both quite simple. In essence, a wiki is a simplification of the process of creating HTML web pages. Simply clicking an "edit this page" link allows instant revisions (Lamb, 2004). Wikis are editable through a browser, and the editing interface is generally simple and easy to use. Wikis provide a mechanism to record every change that occurs over time as a document is revised. Each time a person makes changes to a wiki page, that revision of the content becomes the current version, and an older version is stored. Versions of the document can be compared side-by-side, and edits can be "rolled back" if necessary. This means that it is possible to revert a page (if necessary) to any of its previous states.

Further, the administrator of the site has control over access, determining which portions are user-editable. Some wikis restrict editing access, allowing only registered members to edit page content, although anyone may view it. Others allow completely unrestricted access, allowing anyone to both edit and view content (Olson, 2006).

Many wiki systems are adding functionalities such as web-based spreadsheets, calendars, documents, photo galleries, private workspaces, hierarchical organization, WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) web editing, importing Word or Excel files, and even integration with centralized content management systems (Lamb, 2004). WikiMatrix (2007) provides a tool to compare the features of various popular wiki engines.

Educational benefits of wikis revolve around the fact that they offer an online space for easy interaction and collaboration. Both teachers and students can easily create web pages using wikis without prior knowledge or skill in web development or programming, eliminating the extra time necessary to develop these skills. A wiki offers the ability to interact with evolving text over time as well, allowing teachers and learners to see assignments as they are drafted, rather than commenting only on the final draft. Considering the complications of scheduling after-hours meetings for students, a wiki can also be extremely useful for communication within groups. Further, as more organizations adopt wikis for internal and external collaboration and information dissemination, interacting with them at the educational level builds important work skills.