OL Wiki Features:
The OL Wiki uses Dokuwiki, an application which has been used to build other wikis at TRU.
Revision control
- Editing toolbar and section editing option
- Editing history (recent changes) tracked and stored and allows for unlimited revisions
- Locking mechanisms to prevent parallel editing of pages
Plug-ins and media
- Plug-ins for Flash, Visio and Tableau reporting dashboards
- Option to upload and embed images and other forms of media
Additional features
- Integrated indexed search function
- Automatic table of contents
generation based on heading styles
- Page linking
- Documentation updating in one place rather than across multiple network folders possible
In business, internal communication is a dialogic process between employees and employer and employee and co-workers, according to Management Psychologist Lee Hopkins. Communication, he explains, is a dialogue not a monologue and as such all parties that make up an institution must have a platform for their voices to be heard.
Originally, having identified a need for an effective internal communications medium within the Open Learning Division of Thompson Rivers University, Project Radar was born. This initiative represented the development of an online internal communications tool in the form of an Intranet.
However, as a result of meetings held with each Open Learning (OL) department in 2009 under Project Radar’s Internal Communications Consultation Process, the development of an Intranet was deemed impractical. Inspired by the existing Enrolment Services and Advising Wiki*, developed by Enrolment Services and Advising Assistant Jason Hogue, it was determined that wiki functionality could also provide a cost efficient, scalable and manageable application for OL’s Division-wide communication needs.
OL Wiki is a progression or evolution of Project Radar, according to Project Promoter and Interim Manager of OL’s Business Metrics Department Rhoda Verduin. Project Radar’s objective was to serve as an internal communications medium for OL providing updates on organizational information, Verduin said. The OL Wiki will do much the same as it will allow OL staff and faculty to continuously customize pages and information, including updates and edits.
Moragh Macaulay, Market Research Analyst (Auxiliary) with OL and a driving force behind the Wiki’s development, describes the OL Wiki as “an evolution of the Project Radar concept of an OL intranet, the OL Wiki will provide a secure and open environment for user-generated content that has the technical functionality and ease-of-use to build an interactive, informative and credible repository of institutional knowledge.”
“Wikis are easy to use, have search functionality and are scalable in terms of functionality through plug-ins,” Macaulay explained. “The Wiki will serve as a democratic, secure and open environment for user-generated content and information sharing and presentation.”
Access to the OL Wiki will be available to all OL employees through password protected accounts. Additional security will also be provided by a group settings function, available through the OL Wiki Administration.
While the OL Wiki is still in the building stages, a surplus of important OL information, such as details on the Curriculum Life Cycle, is already available for review, updating and editing. Other information currently published on the Wiki includes: the OL Wiki Manual; OL News and Events; Committees and Meetings; Documents and Forms; Data Surveys and Market Research; and much more department-specific data.
For more information about, or to set up an account, visit OL Wiki http://olearn.wiki.tru.ca/doku.php?id=TRU-OL or contact OLwiki@tru.ca.
Please note that training seminars explaining how to use the Wiki are being planned. OL users will be contacted when session dates and times are established.
Interesting Wiki Facts:
- Developer: Ward Cunningham, an American computer programmer and developer of the first wiki, WikiWikiWeb (http://c2.com/cgi/wiki), in Portland, Oregon.
- First wiki: WikiWikiWeb, of which programming first began in 1994. It was first installed on the website of Cunningham’s software consultancy, Cunningham & Cunningham. WikiWikiWeb was intended as a collaborative database to make the exchange of ideas between programmers easier.
- Etymology: Wiki was named by Cunningham after the Hawaiian word for “fast,” which is “wiki” (pronounced ‘witi or ‘viti). Cunningham was first introduced to the word “wiki” when he was told to take the wiki shuttle bus. Originally, Cunningham considered calling the software “quick-web” but instead used the Hawaiian word.
- Common uses: project communication; Intranets; and documentation. Companies often use wikis as their sole collaborative software and as a replacement for Intranets, like TRU-OL. Schools and universities often use wikis to enhance group learning. 10
Extracted from files on wikipedia.org, October 8, 2010.
A wiki is a website that can be directly edited by anyone with editing privileges.
Employees of Thompson Rivers University, Open Learning have the chance to win by simply saying what they think or sharing what they know.
In order to enter the Wiki-to-Win contest, which kicked off October 6 and runs until 4 pm on November 3, OL staff must create a wiki page or section on the OL Wiki that is fun and/or informative. All OL staff are eligible to enter as either an individual or part of a team of up to 15 people. The winning entry, which will be chosen by the Service Excellence Leadership Team, will receive a lunch for their team (of up to 15 people) at Earls Restaurant. The second prize winner, who will receive lunch for two at Earls Restaurant, will be determined by a random draw of all entries. To view contest details including rules and regulations, and to access the contest entry form login to the OL Wiki at http://olearn.wiki.tru.ca/doku.php. Questions about the contest can be sent to olwiki@tru.ca.
