What is a Wiki?What is a Wiki? (and why would extension (and why would extension agents want to use one?)agents want to use one?)

John DornerJohn Dorner

john_dorner@ncsu.edujohn_dorner@ncsu.edu

www.nacaa.com/ampic/2006/www.nacaa.com/ampic/2006/

What is a wiki?What is a wiki?

• A website that allows anyone to A website that allows anyone to add, remove or edit contentadd, remove or edit content

• A community on a shoestringA community on a shoestring

• A collaborative toolA collaborative tool

• Totally openTotally open

• Flexible.Flexible.

What is a wiki?What is a wiki?

• SimpleSimple

• QuickQuick

• Document basedDocument based• Not message basedNot message based

• The sum of its contributors.The sum of its contributors.

• DemocraticDemocratic

Popular Wikis

• Wikipedia"Imagine a world in which every single

person is given free access to the sum

of all human knowledge. That’s what we’re doing.”

• WikiHow“The How-to Manual That Anyone Can

Write or Edit”

Why do wikis work? Why do wikis work?

• Fast and easy to use Fast and easy to use

• Open and Transparent Open and Transparent

• Scales (2 to millions)Scales (2 to millions)

• Compromise and ConsensusCompromise and Consensus

• CollaborativeCollaborative

• CommunityCommunity•Jon Udell – Heavy Metal Umlaut - Jon Udell – Heavy Metal Umlaut - öö

What makes a crowd What makes a crowd smart?smart?

• DiversityDiversity

• DecentralizedDecentralized

• IndependentIndependent

• Develop a collective verdict.Develop a collective verdict.

Why don’t wikis work?Why don’t wikis work?

• Organizational Culture Organizational Culture

• Lack of ‘control’Lack of ‘control’

• ““We are the experts” mindsetWe are the experts” mindset

• OpennessOpenness

• New technologyNew technology

• Small communitySmall community

The “Wiki Way”The “Wiki Way”

• If it “ain’t right” fix it!If it “ain’t right” fix it!• There is no ultimate There is no ultimate

authorityauthority• Work to develop consensusWork to develop consensus

• Think before you writeThink before you write

• Respect diversity of ideas.Respect diversity of ideas.

Why Wiki?Why Wiki?

• E-mail for groupsE-mail for groups

• Great for CollaboratingGreat for Collaborating

• Nothing is ever lost!Nothing is ever lost!

• Being open.Being open.

Potential uses - internallyPotential uses - internally

• Event planningEvent planning

• Collaborative writingCollaborative writing

• Develop a class or presentationDevelop a class or presentation

• DocumentationDocumentation

• Agent trainingAgent training• eXtensioneXtension

• Leader TrainingLeader Training

• Wikipedia.orgWikipedia.org

• WikiHow.comWikiHow.com

Potential uses - externallyPotential uses - externally

Some common wikisSome common wikis

Editing contentEditing content

• Different wikis use different tagsDifferent wikis use different tags

• Look at content in other pagesLook at content in other pages

• Use the online ‘Help’!Use the online ‘Help’!

Starting a new pageStarting a new page

• Create a link - then click on itCreate a link - then click on it

• Edit an existing page’s URLEdit an existing page’s URL• go to a page that doesn’t exist.go to a page that doesn’t exist.

The NACAA WikiThe NACAA Wiki

• It’s there for YOU!It’s there for YOU!

• Experiment with itExperiment with it

• Your boss isn’t watching Your boss isn’t watching

Questions?Questions?

John DornerJohn Dorner

john_dorner@ncsu.edujohn_dorner@ncsu.edu

This PowerPointThis PowerPoint

(with speaker notes) (with speaker notes)

is available at:is available at:

www.nacaa.com/ampic/2006/www.nacaa.com/ampic/2006/