What is a WIKI?

First a couple of definitions from the web.

From the Wikipedia:

• Wiki or WikiWiki - a hypertext document collection or the collaborative software used to create it. Coined by Ward Cunningham, the creator of the wiki concept, who named them for the "wiki wiki" or "quick" shuttle buses at Honolulu Airport.

From wiki.org:

• Wiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. Wiki supports hyperlinks and has a simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly.
• Wiki is unusual among group communication mechanisms in that it allows the organization of contributions to be edited in addition to the content itself.
• Like many simple concepts, "open editing" has some profound and subtle effects on Wiki usage. Allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site is exciting in that it encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by nontechnical users.
• A wiki is a collaberative website, where users can create, update and delete webpages with no editorial control. Some wiki's allow anyone to create an account. Others control who has an account and what pages they can work on.

Application for Collaborative Wiki Space

The Enterprise Wiki, Confluence, is being used by the UniversityofBradford to provide groups such as centres, units or sections with wiki spaces to aid information exchange and collaboration with internal and external audiences. Internal wikis associated with teaching programmes will not be hosted here, for this purpose see the wiki feature in Blackboard (the University's Virtual Learning Environment). Support for that type of wiki can be found in Learner Support Services. The following rules of practice apply: * Each Confluence Space must be owned by a named member of staff (Space Owner). This person is ultimately responsible for making sure the Space content meets University regulations and UKERNA guidelines (see Relevant Supporting Documentation below).

• The content of wiki Spaces must not contravene the University regulations as outlined below and found in full on the Learner Support Services web pages at http://www.brad.ac.uk/lss/.
• The Space Owner must designate a Space Administrator (this can be the same person). The Space Administrator must be either a current member of staff or registered student at the University. This point of contact is responsible for managing all activity including Space Authors.
• Where the template of the Space has been customised, the Space Administrator is responsible for ensuring compliance with University regulations and legal requirements such as accessibility legislation (i.e. SENDA and DDA).
• Spaces will reside at the http://spaces.brad.ac.uk:8080/ address.
• Wikis hosted on this service are for uses associated with University business (i.e. academic) only. Applications for personal wikis (blogs) will not be considered.
• Requests for plug-ins should be directed to the ICT Service Desk (ictservicedesk@bradford.ac.uk) for consideration. Only after testing will installation be scheduled for the production server.

Wiki Space Owners will be required to confirm that the Space is still required every 12 months. Failure to respond will result in the wiki being disabled

Registration

The collaborative wiki server is completely separate from the rest of the University's computer systems. To have a Space created you must first complete the agreement form and return it to the J B Priestley Building Reception. Upon receipt of a completed, signed form (plus members list), an account will be created and Collaborative Space allocated. You will be notified of this via an e-mail message. Normal usernames and passwords will apply for all members of the Space with University email accounts. External members will need to supply a username and password. You will also need to identify a name for the Space, be aware that it is advisable to keep this short as it will be appended to the usernames of external members.