Welcome to the TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute Wikispaces Platform!

This space on the Wikispaces Private Label platform has been established to provide staff and students at TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institutewith free, collaborative teaching and learning spaces.

In this space you will find the following information:

• What is a Wiki and Why Should I Use One
• For Staff: Sign Up for Your Wikispace
• Wikispaces Search - Find wikispaces from across the Western Sydney Institute and TAFE NSW.

To obtain further information about Western Sydney Institute Wikispaces please use our Contact Form to get in touch with staff in the Learning Technologies Team.

What is a Wiki and Why Should I Use One

A wiki is software that allows registered users or anyone to collaboratively create, edit, link, and organize the content of a website, usually for reference material. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites and to power community websites. From Wikipedia, of the worlds largest wikis. [Accessed 20 July, 2009] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki

Wikis provide a simple but effective space for content creation and collaboration and can be used in a wide variety of educational settings. Watch this great video on Wikis in plain English video by commoncraft



Please note: Although it is the same software, the Western Sydney Institute Wikispaces environment is a separate platform from the wider wikispaces network. If you have been using a free Wikispace with your learners, please contact the Learning Technologies Team for information and support on how to migrate your wikispace to the Western Sydney Institute Wikispaces platform.

For Staff: Sign Up for Your Wikispace

TAFE NSW - Western Sydney Institute have developed a detailed procedure which staff who wish to use wikis or blogs should follow. The policy and procedures are designed to ensure easy access to simple, effective and secure spaces for teaching and learning.

If you would like further information click on the following links:

• How to apply for a Western Sydney Institute Wiki
• Western Sydney Institute Wikispaces Guidelines
• Western Sydney Institute Wikispaces Terms of Use
• Contact Form - for queries, technical support and information
• Example Wikis: Good examples of wikis used for teaching and learning.

Wikispaces Search - Find wikispaces from across the Western Sydney Institute and TAFE NSW

Institutes from across TAFE NSW are currently using wikis as collaboration, knowledge creation and sharing tools. In order to encourage collaboration and sharing across Institutes, a cross-institute tagging system has been developed to allow for searchable indexes of all TAFE NSW wikis.

Click on the links below to view:

• Western Sydney Institute Wikis Register