Wikis and Blogs
Wikis? Wikis
are websites with content that is collaboratively created by multiple users.
The result of this collaborative effort that helps create an overall opinion
instead of that of an individual writer. Because of the technology associated
with Wikis, they can be continuously updated. The most popular Wiki site is
Wikipedia but there are others as well such as Wikihow, MediaWiki,
WikiTextbooks, Wikispaces. These sites offer the reader a variety of
information from how to build a car engine, where to get free software, news
& current affairs, and even textbooks.
There is a downside to wiki sites, and it is that
information posted can dated, erroneous, or even fabricated. While the wiki
sites update regularly, you don’t know if the item you are researching has been
updated. Also, say for instance you are researching a topic, such as the fall
of the Roman Empire. While the site and this particular topic may have been
updated, if it was updated by a group of people without PhDs, the information
may be dated or the complexities of the issue may not be explained properly. A
single author with a PhD is more credible source because their educational
background has validated and evaluated on multiple occasions. When conducting
research, wikis are great place to start but should be relied on as your sole
source of information on the topic.[2]
Blogs?
A blog is a
website usually created by one person, which consist of entries called Posts. Post appear based on the most
recent date, sort of like a daily journal. A person who blogs is called a Blogger, the act of writing a post is
called Blogging and the Blogosphere is the online community of
blogs and bloggers. Blogs can be about anything and everyone can create a blog.
To create a blog you will need a specific software, which is usually free.
People blog about their personal lives, politics, cooking, their pets, travel
and million other topics. As of today there approximately 100 million blogs and
this number will grow as more and more people get internet access.
Gary Vaynerchuk is a person who is
considered by lifehack.org as to be one of the most influential bloggers
working today. Gary has become a millionaire blogging about anything and
everything having to do with wine[3]
Most blogs are text based but many now include video and
sound. Just like wiki sites, their drawbacks to blogs. First and foremost,
anyone can create one which means that the information on a blog may not be
verified, exaggerated or even fabricated. Blogs are created by people who have
their own opinions, beliefs and view of their world. [4]
Also, there is now a problem with splogs
or spam blogs. These blogs that are made to look like they were written by
individuals but are actually created by companies to generate traffic to their
website, usually to sell a product they are marketing.[5]
Getting information from a blog is fine, but if you have doubts, seek out
another source, or get another opinion.
[1] Here’s an example of a wikiHow page, and for this
blog, appropriate. http://www.wikihow.com/Do-Internet-Research
[2]
Evans, A. Martin, K., & Poatsy, M.A. (2015). Technology in Action. “Wikis,”
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Pg 82
[3] https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/blog/
& http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/top-10-most-inspirational-bloggers-the-world.html
[4] H.
(2014). What is a Blog? Retrieved September 17, 2016, from from
http://weblogs.about.com/od/startingablog/p/WhatisABlog.htm
[5]
Evans, A. Martin, K., & Poatsy, M.A. pg 83
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