Wiki is the Hawaiian word for “quick.” A wiki is a website where users can add and/or edit content collaboratively using only a web browser. Several benefits of using wikis include giving all group members an equal voice in a project, preventing slackers from hiding behind their peers’ work, and being able to replay the history of the creation of the wiki. Instructors who ask their students to create wikis in Blackboard will want to provide training to their students on how to use the tool.
The following directions are for instructors who are setting up group wiki sites within Blackboard.
- Log into your course site.
- Click the Control Panel.
- Click on the Content Area where you’d like the wiki to appear (i.e. Assignments).
- On the right-hand side of the page, click the dropdown menu and select Wiki. Click the Go button to the immediate right of the dropdown menu.
- Type a name for the wiki (i.e. Team One, Team A).
- Type a description for the wiki.
Note: As a general rule, type team members’ names into the description.
- Under the Wiki Information section, leave the remaining settings as is.
- Under the Member Settings section, click Specific groups and course members.
You will then be able to select individual team members from the box below. To move a person’s name from the Individual Course Members box to the Selected Members box, click on the name of the person to be moved and click the arrow pointing to the right.
- After selecting group members, you have several options.
DO NOT select the option to allow students to permanently delete wiki pages as it will allow students to delete work posted by their peers which can’t be retrieved.
You can select the option to Allow members to export the wiki, if desired. This will allow students to export a completed wiki as a web site.
You can select the option to View Comments if you desire the ability to post comments or have your students post comments on wiki content. You can also allow students to write comments. If this option is left unchecked, only the instructor can write comments.
- Under the Non-Member Settings section, if you don’t want teams to see other teams’ work, uncheck (deselect) the box for Allow non-members to view the wiki. If you do decide to allow teams to view each other’s wikis, you can use the Display After and Display Until option to define the period of time the viewing can take place.
- Under the Create Gradebook Entry section, you can check the box if you plan to have a single assessment point for grading the wiki project. Checking the box will automatically create a column in your course site Gradebook.
- When finished, click OK to make the wiki site available.
- Repeat entire process for each team.