The Wonders of Wiki

Wiki pages are the prime example of Web 2.0. These pages are basic forms of communication that allow people to interact through the web in a convenient manner. The most common forms of wiki are Wikipedia and Wikihow. Both forms of wiki allow individuals to place information on the internet that can later be edited by either contributing more information or removing false information as well as basic instruction. Wikipedia provides information on academic matters, theories, people, cars, and almost anything one can think of, while a WikiHow is pure instruction on how to do something. Although they are very similar in how they can become part of the web, they are also very different in their functions.

With writing a wiki, the key factor is communication and expression. Basic communication is necessary for getting someone to understand the point(s) an individual may be trying to convey. There are multiple things one needs consider when communicating through wiki. For starters, education level and prior knowledge should always be considered. When informing or instructing someone how to do something an individual should assume the reader has no prior knowledge on the subject and can only comprehend in the most basic terminology. This is not put in place to undermine the reader or diminish their education level, but to ensure that the information provided is comprehendible to a multitude of audiences and not just a specified group. In addition to making wiki pieces understandable to all, how they are expressed is also of great significance. 

  Although expressing a topic using words is among the most common, there are other ways to adequately express something as well. Photo instruction and picture references can be extremely helpful when trying to learn how to do something. For example, if someone wants to learn how to do make up, words may not be enough. In this instance, demonstrating steps through visuals may be more useful than simply just stating words because someone can visually see where things are placed and how it is applied. Depending on the subject, picture references may do more justice than photo instructions and words. For example, if someone wants to learn about the Periodic Table of Elements and how it works it would be difficult to demonstrate this in a step by step photo tutorial. In this case, instead of step by step visual instructions, showing exactly where each component is located may be of greater assistance (a picture referencing where the element number is located, where the group number is located, what group it belongs to, etc.). In addition to photo references, other forms of references are commonly used to help a reader gain more knowledge on a subject.

References to other wiki pages and/or collaborating with another wiki page are also options that individuals often explore. References to other wiki pages are useful because they provide extra support that is related to a topic but not necessarily needed in that exact wiki itself. For example, if there is a topic about surviving college in four years, references to other wiki pages may include wiki pages about dealing with stress and time management. Although these topics may be mentioned and deemed as important tools to surviving college, going into depth about them within the article may take the entire subject off track resulting in losing or confusing a reader. Collaborating wikis are also considered when a topic can be more empowering when combined with a topic that provides very similar information. In this instance, another author would contribute more information whether it be in depth or newly discovered information that can strengthen the wiki altogether. Some wikis alone are weaker than when combined with an already established wiki that essentially provides the same information. To avoid a wiki being combined with another established one, research is required to decide which topic would be the best choice.

Prior to writing a wiki, making sure a topic of interest has not already been written about once or various times can save time and trouble in the long run. By doing this, the possibility of having a wiki combined or seen as unneeded because of an abundant number of resources on this topic can be decreased by a significant amount. Writing on a topic that has not yet been covered or has very little coverage can be more beneficial to the wiki environment as well as its readers.

The experience of writing a wiki can become very stressful because once the information is published and made public, almost anyone can add, edit, and delete as they please. On top of this, just like most technology, nothing is guaranteed to be saved. Technology can be a hit or miss and it doesn’t always function properly because it is constantly evolving. Work is often misplaced, completely gone, or pieces are missing. With wiki being such an unstable environment, it is highly recommended that work is constantly saved and backed up to avoid any tragedies or work lost.    

Writing a wiki can be simple and difficult in the same breath. As simple as it may seem to tell someone how to do something, teaching it step by step can get tedious and frustrating. The process of breaking down each step to the simplest terms possible can be challenging because the brain has to revert back from just doing something out of habit to actually remembering exactly how it’s done. Deciding how to visually communicate the instruction can be difficult as well. Putting words with a picture doesn’t always explain things comprehensively. Sometimes, words attached to a picture can say one thing while the picture itself can demonstrate an entire new meaning. Making sure the visuals being used can be understood universally is essential. When writing a wiki, assumptions should never be made that the reader will understand what the author means or interpret it the way you intend it be. Visuals should be clear, concise, and easily demonstrate the instructions being given. On top of this, communication should be clear and the flow should be smooth. A wiki should not be difficult to understand but instead easy to learn and easy to retain.