Why Wiki?
A Wiki is a website which visitors can modify. Wikipedia, an open encyclopedia, has become a very popular research site in recent years. This online video course will introduce you to the benefits and disadvantages of the new and controversial publication format.
» Part One - Introduction (28:39)
Start here to get an overview of how Wikis work and how to use Wikipedia. This section includes a guided tour of some articles which have been produced by the Wikipedia community.
» Part Two - Caveats (20:37)
What are the problems with Wikipedia? This section covers topics such as vandalism, content controversies, and coverage biases. The future of Wikipedia is also discussed.
» Part Three - Comparisons (11:46)
How does Wikipedia measure up to other sources? Given Wikipedia's failures, this section emphasizes the need to critically evaluate information from all publication formats.
» Part Four - Other Wikis (20:54)
This section covers Wikipedia's sister projects and other fan sites which use the Wiki software. It ends with a review of how libraries and librarians are using Wikis, and how you can create your own Wiki.
Viewing requirements: High-speed Internet (recommended), Web browser with sound and a Flash-compatible player (Version 8 or above for video). The official Flash player is available as a free download (for Linux and other advanced users, the Flash Player 9 Update is also available).
Common sense disclaimer: The views expressed in this presentation are solely those of John Hubbard and do not represent the opinions of University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee or other librarians. Before using and citing Wikipedia for your schoolwork, check with your instructor. The information presented is believed to be accurate as of October 2006.