Week 9; #18 Wikis

From a recent and very brief survey, I can say that the wiki is a tool that I would definitely like to explore further.  There is so much potential for online collaborative development, resource sharing and user input. 
The Yarra Plenty Books wiki and similar ‘reader advisory’ resources are good example of these features and reveal the potential for developing not only attractive and informative Web pages, but also those that are dynamic and offer scope for user input. This is something I am inspired to try and develop for my own Resource Centre/school library presence, as a means of engaging and informing school staff and students.
There is also the scope for professional staff collaboration and training and development, be it for teacher and librarian/teacher librarian lesson planning or research project/assignment planning and design; or for staff mentoring and training. 
The Albany County Public Library staff wiki! clearly demonstrates provision for online collaboration and resource sharing, in this case, in policy and procedure development and exploring related issues.  Such an approach would be eminently suitable for any library team; and could well serve as an effective and empowering online professional resource and forum for such networks as OZTL-NET
In this brief exploration of wikis, I feel I must must at least make a passing reference to Wikipedia - the ultimate wiki if you like; and the reality is that many students do use Wikipedia as a principal reference source.  What I find quite interesting, is that the Wikipedia designers/producers are aware of the issues regarding authorative editing and publishing and anotate entries accordingly, outlining respective gaps in say sourcing or citations.  
Interestingly there have been recent occurrences of staff setting the development of Wikipedia entries as assignment tasks for their students, as a way of developing research and written communication skills.  Students given Wikipedia assignments (via James Keller, Canadian Press 9 July 2008) relates, for example, how students of Latin American Studies at the University of British Columbia were set such a task.



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