Google have decided to take on Wikipedia, but contributors to this new user-generated content service (in its beta phase and called Knol – meaning unit of knowledge) will have to give their name when they post an article – which will in effect be a simple web page. Knols will have community tools and people will be able to submit comments, questions, additional content and even edits. Anyone will be able to rate a Knol or to write a review of it. At the discretion of the author, a Knol may include ads.


Given the wide use of Wikipedia in schools and the ongoing debate about its accuracy, Google’s initiative may be the next iteration of user-generated content that becomes popular in education.

One fundamental difference is that Knol will also have advertising, but only if the author elects to include it on their page(s). While having advertising linked to content used by students is something many educators feel nervous about, the simple reality is that if you want free content then someone has to pay. Google also says that it will provide authors with ‘substantial revenue share from the proceeds of those ads’. We think Knol will be one of the most interesting trends in user-generated content in 2008, so watch this space.

www.google.com