I'm a fan of technology, and I love to learn about new apps or
software that will help me at home or at work. Based on this interest, I
attended several technology sessions at NACADA. At one session, Brandeis University
advisors shared their experience using wikis as an academic advising tool in
"More Than a Training Manual: Using Wikis to Get Everyone on the Same
Page."
Attendees were given a chronological view of their processes in
setting up a wiki training manual, their reasons for starting one, the pros and
cons of going paperless, the skills/resources they needed to start, the ins and
outs of launching and running their wiki, and the evolution of their own wiki
training manual. The biggest reason for creating a wiki training manual is that
it becomes a tool for training new advisors. An already established training
manual becomes invaluable to new advisors. Even after new advisor training
takes place, there will inevitably be procedural and policy changes that take
place, unique situations that arise, and questions about where to locate needed
information. A wiki becomes a clearinghouse for information that can easily be
updated by anyone given access to administrative functions.
