Wiki is a web site, structure and contents hereof could be collectively modified by its users by means of tools, granted by the site itself. The biggest and most famous wikisite is Wikipedia
For creation of wiki environment, a special software is needed – a wiki engine. This particular type of site managing systems is fairly simple in its structure and functionality, since nearly all actions of structuring hereof and contents processing are carried out by the users manually.
Functioning of Wikipedia and other sites of Wikimedia Fund is based on “MediaWiki” engine.
Some wikis enable modification of their content by anybody. Like in case of walls and fences covered by comments and decorated by graffiti, the content of such wikis is sometimes spoiled and enhanced by inappropriate things. However, in contrast to walls and fences, it is possible to return the wiki’s content to previous version: correcting is easier than spoiling. However if someone is persistent and is doing his best to harm the wiki-site users deliberately, it is possible to disable the possibility of introducing corrections. Major dirty trick is a hard work anyway.
In education, offered by educational establishments, two qualitatively different parts could be singled out. The first one is mastering knowledge, arising from the teacher’s lectures, textbooks or other learning aids. The second – is help of a teacher in understanding the subject, answers to questions, which may arise and focusing student’s efforts on directions favorable for education. The second part can be denominated as an active part of education, as it requires intentional efforts of both student and teacher.
Each topical page of Wiki-site is supplied with a page for discussing the topic. If the part of the page content is unclear for a reader, he/she may ask questions at page meant for discussions; and his/her question can be soon answered.
All conflicts arising from an article are also settled at discussion pages: should two authors have whatever controversies concerning the subject, they may resolve them in a talk between themselves and other Wiki-site participants, who will settle their dispute.
Practically, every Wiki-site page is being made by a continuous history enhanced and improved, created by different people. Writing an article in Wikipedia is something like handing student’s work over to a good teacher. “Teacher” (sooner or later when it is too late) finds all errors and shows shortcomings of the article, adds what is needed, enhances the style, removes bias, gives references to outer sources, and adds illustrations.
It is possible to write an article in Wikipedia in a foreign language and see how the text of it is corrected by native speakers. However, it is better to do so, if the level of foreign language is acceptable.