whats a wiki?

Wiki is a type of software that allows someone to freely create and alter a web page. They have been around for over a decade now, and it supports hyperlinks and it also has a simple text syntax for re-writing new material and creating links. Its an intresting concept because anyone can just change the material that is on a web page. Its exciting in a way that anyone can alter or re-create something that is on a web page. A prime example of a wiki is wikipedia. Similar to an enclycopedia, wikipedia allows users to put their input on specific topics. This is all good, however people can also input wrong information. Because anyone can access it, anyone can put whatever they want and it could be wrong information. There are other examples of Wikis. People can use wikis to post what they think about the upcoming election, or the war in Iraq, and people can post what they want, and if its incorrect someone else can fix it. There are some limitations though, a lot of websites need permission from the website before you can edit, just so that the people that edit webpages aren't just anyone that will type anything that is irrelevant to the topic. As far as the classroom goes, I think wikis can be useful tools. Students could create a web page as a group project and add or edit whatever is on the page at any time. However I wouldn't use a wiki to carry on a conversation, thats more for blogs. As long as students are posting appropiate posts according to the topic, wikis will remain very useful.