What is a Wiki and why would extension

What is a Wiki? (and why would extension agents want to use one? ) John Dorner john_dorner@ncsu. edu www. nacaa. com/ampic/2006/

What is a wiki? • A website that allows anyone to add, remove or edit content • A community on a shoestring • A collaborative tool • Totally open • Flexible.

What is a wiki? • • • Simple Quick Document based • Not message based • The sum of its contributors. • Democratic

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. ” • Wiki. How “The How-to Manual That Anyone Can Write or Edit”

Why do wikis work? • • • Fast and easy to use Open and Transparent Scales (2 to millions) Compromise and Consensus Collaborative Community • Jon Udell – Heavy Metal Umlaut - ö

What makes a crowd smart? • • Diversity Decentralized Independent Develop a collective verdict.

Why don’t wikis work? • • • Organizational Culture Lack of ‘control’ “We are the experts” mindset Openness New technology Small community

The “Wiki Way” • If it “ain’t right” fix it! • There is no ultimate authority • • • Work to develop consensus Think before you write Respect diversity of ideas.

Why Wiki? • • E-mail for groups Great for Collaborating Nothing is ever lost! Being open.

Potential uses - internally • • • Event planning Collaborative writing Develop a class or presentation Documentation Agent training e. Xtension

Potential uses - externally • • • Leader Training Wikipedia. org Wiki. How. com

Some common wikis

Editing content • • • Different wikis use different tags Look at content in other pages Use the online ‘Help’!

Starting a new page • Create a link - then click on it • Edit an existing page’s URL • go to a page that doesn’t exist.

The NACAA Wiki • • • It’s there for YOU! Experiment with it Your boss isn’t watching

Questions? John Dorner john_dorner@ncsu. edu This Power. Point (with speaker notes) is available at: www. nacaa. com/ampic/2006/