Elizabeth ScroggsDiffusion and Integration of TechnologyEDUC 8841Dr. Watson

What is a Wiki?

“A wiki is a Web site that allows users to add and update content on the site using their own Web browser. This is made possible by Wiki software that runs on the Web server. Wikis end up being created mainly by a collaborative effort of the site visitors. A great example of a large wiki is the Wikipedia, a free encyclopedia in many languages that anyone can edit” (Tech Terms, 2005).

What could wikis provide to educators?

O “Wiki technology can provide benefits of improved work processes, improved communication and collaboration, and improved knowledge sharing. With organized and usable knowledge being a key ingredient to organizational success, ensuring productive creation and sharing of knowledge can be deemed advantageous for organizations” (Hester, 2008).

Need:O “The practices of participating in wikis, and

social software more generally, could potentially provide a structure supporting a community of practice model of learning as individuals come together, and develop a repertoire of shared practices, bringing new experiences to the group and learning from the group’s existing practices” (Grant, 2006).

Research:O The history of wikis dates from 1994,

when Ward Cunningham invented the concept and gave it its name (he gave the name "WikiWikiWeb" to both the wiki, which ran on his company's website at c2.com, and the wiki software that powered it).

Research continue:O The creation of true wikis only

became possible with the development of the World Wide Web in the early 1990s.

O c2.com thus became the first wiki, or a website with pages that can be edited via the browser, with a version history for each page.

Development of wiki software, 2001–2003:

O Until 2001, wikis were virtually unknown outside of the restricted circles of computer programmers.

O Wikis were introduced to the general public by the success of Wikipedia, a free content encyclopedia that can be edited by anyone.

Development continued:

O After 2002, the number of wiki engines continued to grow, as new commercial products were introduced, and as new open-source projects forked off of existing ones.

Development continued:

O As they developed, wikis incorporated many of the features used on other websites and blogs, including:

*support for various wiki markup styles *optional use of external editors *support for plugins and custom extensions *use of RSS feeds *integrated email discussion *precise access control

Commercialization: