Wiki software is now very well developed (this is a superb system by
Mark Roseman. The basic functions are clearly accessible.
But this doesn't mean it is easy to get a team of people to join in a collaborative project, building a web site, publishing research and opinion around a common interest.
- the basic principle of linkage, rather than simple stand-alone statement, is often counter-intuitive
- users of a wiki are often reluctant to take up the basic principle of editing each others' work - we often feel more comfortable in leaving someone else's work to stand on its own
- we are so used to management systems that use a hierarchical system of organizing and getting things done - an overarching design and authority - wikis actually work best with no one in control
So what can be done to make a wiki work?
how to make collaborative authoring and research work
- pre-constitute the group - don't expect the software to get people to work together as a team - you need other ways of getting people to get to know each other
- prime the system - don't present the team with blank pages
- ensure a critical mass of people in the team - we have found that a minimum of 8 team members is needed to have people react creatively to each other
- have a manager or facilitator who will help with menus, loose links, summaries, re-edits
some tips on authoring collaborative hypertext
- think and write microtextually - in units of 200 words or so
- spend at least half of your time on edits of your own and others' work, and on links within and outside of your local project
- pay conspicuous attention to signposts, headings, highlighting, using spacing, color and any other kind of highlight
- layout is crucial in hypertextual microcontent - breakup blocks of text and use imagery wherever possible
- use concrete examples wherever possible to prevent the microcontent becoming too abstract
- consider whether a page of content needs to be self-explanatory and stand on its own
