Advanced Lesson 4: Wikis and Blogs

Wikis and blogs are two tools that can help your project collaborate easier.  In this tutorial, you’ll learn when to use a wiki, how to add a wiki, when to use a blog, and how to add a blog.

A wiki is an easy way for users to create text directly in their browser.  This means that it does not matter if the user is using a PC or a Mac or has the latest version of Microsoft Word installed.  Creating text directly in the browser also means that it’s easy for other users to edit the text – they too needn’t worry about their computer’s operating system or software.  A wiki is a tool used for collaborative group project – the most famous example is Wikipedia – an encyclopedia that any registered user can add to or edit.  Your team might use a wiki for meeting agendas, manuals, or conference planning.  For example, your workgroup could decide to stop creating agendas using Microsoft Word.  Instead, you could add an Agenda Wiki.  Each time you need to create an agenda for a meeting, you would add a wiki page instead of creating a document in Microsoft Word.  This wiki page will be accessible to your colleagues; in fact, if your colleagues want to add an agenda item they can easily do so, without downloading and re-uploading a file or using the Edit-in-Place feature.

To add a wiki, navigate to where you would like to add the wiki, then, in the Add section of the command bar, click More items…then click Wiki.  Fill out the form, and you’ve added your wiki.  Next, you’ll add wiki pages.  A wiki is much like a folder: just like you add documents to a folder, you add wiki pages to a wiki – not the other way ‘round.
Once you’ve added a few wiki pages, you might want a particular page to appear more prominently.  You can do this by navigating to the page you’d like to feature, and clicking Feature this page.

If you’d like to see an example of a wiki in Workspace, visit Tip of the Day wiki – it’s part of Workspace Help.  Each tip is a wiki page.

A blog is a web log – a web journal.  It too is independent of operating systems and software; you just need an internet connection to create content.  You add blog entries to a blog much like you would add a diary entry to a diary.  Your team might use a blog if you want to track progress made on group projects.  For example, the Workspace Team uses a blog to track new additions to Workspace.

To add a blog, navigate to where you would like to add the blog.  In the Add section of the command bar, click More items…then click Blog.  Fill out the form, and you’ve added your blog.  Next, you’ll add blog entries.  Users can comment on blog entries – which can be a helpful way to gather feedback about new projects you’re working on.

Now that you know more about blogs and wikis, consider whether adding one might benefit your project.  Then, view the next tutorial about discussions and email.