How+to+Use+a+Wiki

** We want you to be able to really use it. **

 * So below please find some helpful hints or suggestions for those of you who are new to this learning tool. **

The PAGE is not the place to add discussion, but a way to gather people together with similar interests. PAGES are listed on the left column of the HOME of each site.
 * PAGE: ** The page is a place where topics are introduced for your consideration. It is a place to present an idea on which others might comment, expand or debate.

If you want to begin a discussion of your own on a topic PAGE click on the NEW POST button. Take a moment to choose a title for your idea, then post your thoughts. That way if others are interested in continuing your THREAD they can click on your name and title and get involved in the conversation.
 * DISCUSSION: **A discussion is where you get to participate. It allows you to either comment on someone else's ideas or writings, or it allows you to begin a discussion of your own. As you click on and open each topic PAGE, you will see TABS at the top (above the writing). If when you open a PAGE you find that you are interesting in reading about or contributing to a DISCUSSION, click on the DISCUSSION TAB at the top of that page. If a discussion has been started, you will see a number next to the word DISCUSSION even brfore you click on it. (Some of our PAGES already have discussions going which we started in creating this wiki.) When you click on the TAB it will take you to the DISCUSSION part of that PAGE. When you get to the new discussion window you may see more than one discussion taking place. If you want to read what others have written, or contribute to a discussion click on that subtopic and jump right into the "conversation". A pop-up box will appear that allows for your input. Contributing to a conversation is a great way to exchange ideas and the back and forth exchange on a specific conversation is called a THREAD . Some THREADS go on and on. Some are short lived.


 * NOTIFY: ** This option is a real convenience. The term refers to the ability to choose to receive emails to your regular email inbox whenever there is an addition to the wiki. The emails will be sent to the email account with which you registered when you joined this wiki. You can choose to be NOTIFIED in regard to specific changes on certain topics, on changes or additions to individual PAGES, or on the entire wiki. This is a very conventient option since it keeps you informed of conversation that has taken place since you last logged on, without you having to check the wiki everyday. It will send an email to you that states the changes that have taken place and it will also include a link that will take you directly to the place in the wiki where new information has been added. From there you can either respond or just read what has been written. The notify option appears in several places. There is a NOTIFY TAB at the top of each PAGE. There is a button to click in each DISCUSSION which allows you to monitor a specific conversation. And there is a setting on the MANAGE THIS WIKI link, in the left column, that allows you to choose settings that will be applied to your account. Or you can click on the MY SETTINGS link at the very top of the page that will take you to your PROFILE information allowing you to set NOTIFICATIONS for yourself.


 * EMAIL **: An easy option for email exists within this format that allows you to send personal messages to the other members of this wiki. At the top of any page you will see a small ENVELOPE icon. Clicking on that will generate a pop-up box that allows you to send a PM (or Personal Message). That PM will go directly to the other person's email inbox. That way you can send information to someone directly, or ask a question you may not want the entire membership of the wiki to see. If you have a message or email, the little envelope will have a number dispalyed on it informing you of the number of emails you have waiting for you. You can access them by clicking on the envelope, or retrieving them directly from your email inbox.