wiki

// Using the web to refine contents collaboratively //
 * WIKIS **

** What it is **

A wiki is a set of structured and interlinked web pages containing different media, ranging from text to video or flash animations. Wikis are built collaboratively and thus serve the purpose of transforming collective tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge. In addition to the latest version of the document or product being developed, wikis also contain a discussion thread for each page. Most wiki softwares also provide versioning tools, which allow all participants to view the state of the wiki at any point of its development and see the changes made by different users (similar to the "track changes" function on MS Word).

** When to use it **
 * In the context of everyday work, a typical use of wikis is the production of documents by a group of people. All changes are recorded and discussions on specific subjects can be carried out in relation to each section being built. This is considerably less messy than multiple changes recorded in one single document, or discussions carried out via e-mail or even inside the actual text (and sometimes mixed with the final document).
 * Wikis are an effective way of gathering and eliciting collective knowledge on a subject, project, internal procedure, etc.
 * In the context of a learning activity, wikis can be useful for assignments in working groups on the development of a workplan, a project proposal, etc. The resulting wikis, the registered discussions and the registered versions of the wiki can also later serve as evaluation tools.
 * Some examples in OHCHR include:
 * the wiki used to develop this toolkit (on wikispaces at: __http://ohchrkm.wikispaces.com/__ )
 * the Civil Society Practice Wiki (developed using Sharepoint and accessible through the OHCHR Intranet at: [])
 * the wiki on the Glossary on human rights violations

//This screenshot illustrates the history feature on Wikispaces. All changes made to the page are recorded and can later be consulted//. ** What to consider **

Technological considerations
 * There are many services and software that allow for the creation of wikis. Wikispaces (http://www.wikispaces.com) is a popular and free on-line service. Google Docs also allows for the creation of collaborative documents although it does not provide thread discussions linked to the documents.
 * Wikis meant for internal OHCHR users can also be developed in Microsoft Sharepoint and hosted through the OHCHR Intranet. For more information on this option you can contact intranet@ohchr.org.
 * Be aware that not all wiki software allows for concurrent editing.
 * Make sure you are notified when changes are made (for example, most wiki services provide e-mail notification when changes are made ). This will help in the process of reviewing changes in a timely manner.

**Methodological considerations**

As with all social media tools, the behaviour of users will speed up or slow down the development of a wiki. Organizational arrangements will also encourage or discourage members to participate, discuss, and edit content. Below are some methodological suggestions to make your wiki work:
 * Provide clear ** guidance ** on how to create and edit pages in the homepage of the wiki, or in a separate document/space
 * Explain the ** purpose ** of the wiki and how it will contribute to the expected outcome.
 * Create a ** framework ** for the wiki (homepages, sections, sub-sections).
 * Users should have a ** collaborative **, open culture and have a vested interest in the wiki -- it must be relevant to their work.
 * Provide guidance on the content and regular ** feedback **
 * Use images and other ** visuals ** as much as possible to make pages more interesting and easier to follow.
 * Regularly **clean up** old material and ** organize ** existing material.

** Quote **

"We used a Wiki during the development of the "Share, Learn, Innovate" Toolkit. It was very useful and productive to have the entire text in an accessible setting. The wiki made it much easier to jointly draft and edit a long text, especially considering that the members of the team working on this project were in Turin and Geneva. Using a wiki certainly saved us many phone calls, e-mails, and above all, messy documents with track changes." (Juan Fernando Núñez)

//This screenshot illustrates the Discussion feature on Wikispaces, through which users can post comments and suggestions to one another regarding a specific page.// ** Where to learn more **
 * Video about wikis: []
 * Wiki Pedagogy []
 * Wiki Patterns: []
 * KS Toolkit []