http://www.wikimatrix.org/

The host is very important. Criteria to be considered include:

• Ability to be informed of change via email
• Track user contribution
• $, sometimes
• User and attachment limitations
• Back ups?

Example wikis

Wikipedia (most widely known), collaborative, anyone can contribute, hence dispute over its acceptance as a reliable resource

http://www.wikipedia.com

Microbiology

http://microbiowiki.wetpaint.com/

Workshop/Training

http://learntech.pbworks.com/

Freshman Composition

http://freshmancomp.pbworks.com/

Example Research Group

http://wikis.lib.ncsu.edu/index.php/Example_Research_Group

Open Source Textbooks

http://www.opensourcetext.org/

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page

Institutional Repository – Case Western Reserve University

http://wiki.case.edu/Main_Page

Class projects

http://anatowiki.wetpaint.com/?t=anon

Institutional Repository (student run) – Johns Hopkins University

http://wiki.jhu.edu/Main_Page

Another example of an Institutional Repository (student run) UMass

http://www.umasswiki.com/wiki/Main_Page

Advantages of wiki use with students:

• Instantly collaborative
• Accessible anywhere, any time
• Individual empowerment
• Instructor is able to “see” the thought processes of students

Disadvantages of wiki use with students:

• Requires a certain degree of technological skill
• Requires some instructor “patrolling” to monitor use, edits, etc.

Tips for successful wiki use with students:

• Upload attachments
• Create a To Do List page or area where all members can see what the task at hand is and where they’re at in terms of their responsibilities to its progress
• Create a references area for bibliographic content (links can be easily copy/pasted)
• Agree upon/communicate guidelines for use regarding grammar, respect for all members’ thoughts, contributions etc.

Create a Notes area to house contributors’ brief, random ideas. These can then be incorporated into the project at a later date.

Twitter Packs

A wiki that groups like-minded users, here’s one for Education…

http://twitterpacks.pbworks.com/Education+Pack

Twitterel

http://twitterel.com/

Just Tweet It!

Twitter User Directory

http://justtweetit.com/

Wefollow

Twitter user directory

http://wefollow.com/

Twtpoll

Use a twitter poll to collect and graph opinions about a controversial issue.

http://twtpoll.com/

Ways to Use Twitter in Academia

http://cdimicelli.edublogs.org/2008/07/24/twitter-in-the-classroom/

Case Study – Dr. Jamie Wood’s History Course

http://www.good.group.shef.ac.uk/wiki/index.php/Social_bookmarking_software_helps_students_to_generate_resource_lists

Ways to Use Social Bookmarking in Academia

• Share academic papers for peer review
• Track Research – identify other users with similar interests, identify resources tagged similarly to your resources
• Share bookmarks publicly, or with members of a particular group.
• See how popular a resource is by seeing how many other people have bookmarked it