Here are some guidelines for using the wikis:

For more information on what a wiki is, see the YouTube video: Wikis in plain English

For a walk through of the features of the wiki editor, see Prof. Keel's video tutorials on "Working in a Wiki, "making links," and "inserting images" in the "Wiki Help" folder area of the class MyGateway site. The wikis have recently been "upgraded." Here's a list of changes that supplement the tutorials I made before the changes:

1. A big red DELETE button on every page right next to the edit button (before, you had to click edit, first and then click a little gray trash can icon to delete a page). Please be careful.
2. When you click "New Page," you no longer get prompted to name the page, it goes straight to an editable page—named New Page. You can and SHOULD edit the page name in edit mode, so DO NOT forget to do this following the page naming convention we detail in the project guidelines.
3. At least the "make page non-navigable" check box isn't quite as easy to check—now you have to scroll down to the bottom of a page you are editing and click it. BUT, DON'T DO THIS!
4. You will only see one "Save" button at the bottom of a page you are editing--this is the same as the old "Save and Exit" button. Unfortunately, you can no longer save your work periodically and continue editing without exiting edit mode. Obvioulsy, you can save and then click edit again.
5. The Add a Link pop-up window is a bit different--it now allows you to add the text you want to be the link (text to display) at the very top. You can still follow my instruction in the tutorials and "select" a word prior to clicking the "add link" button and the word you selected will appear in the box. The list of available wiki pages to link to will appear automatically, but you still need to select the radio button next to "Wiki Page" before selecting a page in the wiki to link to.

Here's a link to the "Wiki User's Guide."

Basic tips:

• The first page you come to when you open your wiki should be labeled "#" home page." Don't use this page for a personal page or anything other than the wiki's "home."
• Do not edit any other student's page without discussing such edits in advance.  Wikis are collaborative tools, use them to collaborate, not dominate. Pay attention to "where" you are when you do your editing.
• Avoid attaching Word documents and the like--do your work on the wiki page, use the wiki to display your ideas and your research work--write your essays as wiki pages.
• Always insure you link together the pages you create--use your "home page" to provide access to sub-pages for the various parts of the project.

To Create (or edit) a page:

• From any page in the wiki, click on "New Page" (or "Edit" if you have already created it and are returning to edit).
• Give your page a name.  Format: Your last name, Your first name: short page title.
• You'll see a variety of "tools" to help you edit your page--you can choose different fonts, and font sizes, format your text, and add tables. You can also add images and links to other web pages (internal to this wiki, as well as to outside web pages). Click the Image or Link buttons, and follow the simple instructions).
• If you know html, you'll find a button that allows you to edit the source code.
• Be sure to click the "Save" button when you are done!
• You'll be evaluated for content, style, and presentation.
• Every student is responsible for editing the 'home' page (first page you access when you enter the wiki), and to make their name a link to their personal page. Here's how.

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