Wikipedia: the inside story

Presenter By: Syed Iftikhar Ali Shah

What is a Wiki?

The simplest online database that could possibly work(‘wiki wiki’ means ‘rapidly’ in the Hawaiian language).

Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit web page content using any web browser. Open editing encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by non technical users.

What is Wikipedia?

A free content, multilingual encyclopedia written collaboratively by contributors around the world

The site is a Wiki - anybody can edit and add to an article. Offers quick understanding on controversial issues. Strong in current affairs. (Google search: define: Wikipedia)

What isn’t Wikipedia?

It is not an archive (it was decided that poems and other literary works were not suited to Wikipedia)

Free?

Free access (if you have the internet) Free speech (although it is vigilantly

checked) Freedom to:

– copy– modify – redistribute commercially or non commercially

Popularity

9th most popular site on the internet; 6th in Germany; 12th in India, Japan and Iran

2.23% use cnn.com every day, 6.19% use Wikipedia every day

2005-6 there was a big jump in popularity

How good is Wikipedia?

A study compared Wikipedia with Encyclopedia Britannica – Wikipedia had an average of 4 errors per article

and Britannica 3 – Wikipedia followed up on errors after the study,

whereas Britannica just got defensive (according to Jimmy Wales)

How should it be used by students?

RESA Online discusses this www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learn/resaonline/?PATH=/Resources/LitReview/Methodology+in+the+social+sciences+and+humanities/&default=Research+methodology+issues/Wikipedia+as+a+research+tool.htm

Main point – articles are not refereed, so Wikipedia should be a starting point only

How can you create a wiki?

Use some free software and web space

eg Wikispaces www.wikispaces.com/

‘Create simple web pages that groups, friends, and families can edit together’ Pick a username Set your password Enter your email address

Wikis in universities

1. Education2. Communication UniSA courses – for student assessment and

resources eg Information Architecture and Design Boston College student wikia (Wikia offers free

MediaWiki hosting for your community to build a free content wiki-based website)

CaseWiki – an encyclopedic reference about Case Western Reserve University and its surroundings

More examples: School and university projects (Wikipedia)