post #1 - modest beginnings

Although I am always very enthusiastic about new technology, wikis have managed to remain rather elusive to me until this week. In the past, I've taken a training course on using wikis in higher education. I've even created one just to play around with. But up to this point, something hasn't clicked. I understood the functionality of wikis but I didn't understand their applications. I guess it's the old rule: Don't use technology just for the sake of technology. I was trying to find wikis. I needed to just let wikis find me.

My first successful experience with wikis (besides the ever-helpful wikipedia.com) was one week ago (to the day) adding my blog address to our course wiki. That small step was the first lifting of the fog. It made sense...

My classmates and I post our blog addresses on the wiki and if I decide that http://reflectionsonlibrarysystems.blogspot.com is way too long and way too boring, I can just change it...on my own, at any time, from anywhere.

It worked. Something started to click.

Just a few days later I was sitting in my office at work trying to figure out how to organize a carry-in lunch for the library staff. I was attempting to organize the sign up sheet the best technological way I knew how: by email. After logistically thinking that through, I decided it would be better to just post a sign-up sheet in the staff lounge. Suddenly, the sun burst through the remaining fog. It started as disjunct thoughts...

... sign up sheet... techology...
virtual ... efficient... sign up sheet...
virtual ... virtual sign up sheet!....
That's it! I can use a wiki!

Imagine my delight as I logged right back in to wikispaces and created my very own wiki! I quickly created the components I needed, typed clear directions, and sent the link to my colleagues. The Souper Bowl Staff party wiki was created. See it for yourself!

Modest beginnings no doubt. However, this single-paged wiki opened my mind to all sorts of possibilities for effiecient communication and collaboration.

This week I was also introduced to Shareill the Interlibrary Loan wiki. This site hosts critical ILL materials, policies, and resources that are maintained solely by individual users. I can't think of a better way to have useful and current information available to professionals.

So, you can call this the week of the wiki for me. I hope there will be many, many more...