See also basic functions - wikis
Here is a presentation on collaborative research networks - [link]
Some personal reflections on collaboration - [link]
On the idea of Humanities Lab - [link]
Wiki software is now very well developed (this is a superb system by Mark Roseman). The basic functions are clearly accessible.
But this doesn't mean it is easy to get a team of people to join in a collaborative project, building a web site, publishing research and opinion around a common interest.
- the basic principle of linkage, rather than simple stand-alone statement, is often counter-intuitive
- users of a wiki are often reluctant to take up the basic principle of editing each others' work - we often feel more comfortable in leaving someone else's work to stand on its own
- we are so used to management systems that use a hierarchical system of organizing and getting things done - an overarching design and authority - wikis actually work best with no one in control
So what can be done to make a wiki work?
how to make collaborative authoring and research work
- pre-constitute the group - don't expect the software to get people to work together as a team - you need other ways of getting people to get to know each other
- prime the system - don't present the team with blank pages
- ensure a critical mass of people in the team - we have found that a minimum of 8 team members is needed to have people react creatively to each other
- have a manager or facilitator who will help with menus, loose links, summaries, re-edits - looking after general maintenance and clean-up
some tips on authoring collaborative hypertext
- think and write microtextually - in units of 200 words or so
- spend at least half of your time on edits of your own and others' work, and on links within and outside of your local project
- pay conspicuous attention to signposts, headings, highlighting, using spacing, color and any other kind of highlight
- layout is crucial in hypertextual microcontent - breakup blocks of text and use imagery wherever possible
- use concrete examples wherever possible to prevent the microcontent becoming too abstract
- consider whether a page of content needs to be self-explanatory and stand on its own
more resources for running wikis
Wikipedia's comparison of some wiki systems: [link]
Roy Pea's fascinating class at Stanford on Online Learning Communities - [link]
Participatory Media - a new workshop at Stanford - http://shl.stanford.edu:3455/NewMedia
Critical Studies in New Media - a research group at Stanford - http://humanitieslab.stanford.edu/NewMedia/
Points raised on Using wiki in education hosted by ikiw.org:
- Easily create simple websites
- Project development with peer review
- Group authoring
- Track a group project: collective document v.s. individual pages
- Data Collection
- Review classes & teachers
- Presentations
- Tracking progress within your research group
How To: Use Digital Storytelling in Your Classroom by Jennifer New, Edutopia December 2005.
Wiki strategies from Helen Chen, Dan Gilbert, and Jeremy Sabol. For more information about the use of wikis at Stanford, go to http://ctlwiki.stanford.edu/
