How+do+I+create+a+wiki?

Glad you asked. The beauty of using a wiki is that all of the hard work is done for you. You do not need to know HTML code or be a programming expert in order to create an effective wiki. Looking for a wiki provider is like going shopping for a car or an appliance. You need to look at each product individually, decide which best fits your needs, and select that one. Here, however, you can leave your checkbook at home. Although there is software, services and upgrades you can purchase, you should find that many of your wiki needs can be met with free services.

Wikis as a rule are user friendly. Provider sites include tours, video instruction and FAQ's that are answered in laymans turns. For those of us who worked on "dumb terminals" and bought an electric typewriter when entering college, the sites are not intimidating in the least and can be mastered in an couple of hours.

Once you have created an account (generally, you provide your user name, password and a name for your wiki) you're ready to begin. In addition to posting text to the web, wiki authors can insert graphics and pictures. They are able to imbed video and audio into their sites. Hyperlinks to web pages can be inserted into the text. Tables can be placed on any one or all of the pages of your site.

Looking at the various providers can be a little overwhelming. To make it easier, Shonda Brisco published an article in School Library Journal titled [|"Which Wiki is Right for You"] By reading this article and knowing what your goals and needs are, you will be able to find a free service that's just right for you.

=Some free wiki sites to consider and explore:=

[|Wikispaces for Educators]

[|Wet Paint]

[|PBwiki]

[|Tiddlywiki]

[|MediaWiki]

[|Wikia]

After much consideration and soul searching, you've settled on a wiki provider.

Where do I go from here?