Thing #16 Wikis

I enjoyed learning more about Wikis. I have been very curious about them, knew a little bit about Wikipedia, but really didn't understand how it all worked together. I guess the true test will be if I can actually start one on my own - perhaps a idea for staff development.

I went to the sandbox and wrote my entry. I changed the color and the text, but forgot to put a link in the message. Anyway, adding information was very easy.

I would like to use a wiki as a collaboration tool between the teachers at my school and me. It would be a great way for us to have "conversations" about what we want to do in the library. I know my staff, and I will have to convince them that this isn't just "one more thing added to their plate," but that it is a way to make collaboration and arranging meetings easier for everyone.

I can also see trying to set one up for better communication with the students. When they are in the library, they all want to talk to me at the same time, and they all have great information to share. This may be a way for me to be able to hear what all of them have to say - especially when they are wanting to discuss books!

I can see the pros and cons about using Wikipedia for research. I am always reminded of the episode of the Colbert Report when he went to Wikipedia and edited information to make a certain animal no longer on the endangered list. He just made things up and added it to the elephant webpage. If some child was using Wikipedia for research, they wouldn't have their facts written correctly in their report (until someone caught it and corrected the information). It's a great way to introduce using reliable resources for research.