Talk:Wiki 101

From Wikiversity

Jump to: navigation, search

Welcome to the Wiki 101 Talk page!

Notice that this page is in the Talk: namespace. Feel free to ask questions about Wiki 101 here. Many times, those with more experience editing wiki pages forget what it was like first learning how to edit, so don't be shy asking questions!

You can use the + tab at the top oif this page to start a new thread or click on the closest edit link above an existing thread to join it.

[edit] What is a thread?

All Wikiversity pages have an associated Talk: or _talk page. These are where participants talk with each other about the topic discussed on an article, category, template, or other page. It provides a separate area for discourse, questions and answers, debate, brainstorming and many other activities that revolve around its associated page.

In the same way that an article page is broken down into sections, its associated discussions may be broken into threads. When you use the + tab at the top, you are presented with a box for a heading for a new thread. This can be in the form of a question (such as What is a thread?) or may be some discussion about a section (such as Wiki 101#Namespaces) covered on the Wiki 101 article.

To join the What is a thread? thread, click the edit button directly below the heading. You will see my text in the editor. To respond or comment on what I've typed, simply begin your first paragraph with a colon (:). That will indent your text one level. If your comment exeeds one paragraph, just begin each paragraph with a colon. If someone else has responded before you, add two colons (::) to each of your paragraphs. When you are finished typing, use four tildes (~~~~) to automatically sign and date your post. CQ 17:06, 1 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] namespace suggestion

I having been thinking about the "user" namespace, would like to suggest offering users the possibility if being defined as either primarily a "student" or a "teacher" rather than just a "user". What do people think? AlistairReece 14:49, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

I think there is wide agreement that in a learning environment like Wikiversity it is important to have efficient ways of knowing what other people are trying to learn and who can help them towards their learning goals. In a conventional learning environment there is often a well-defined distinction between learner and teacher and everyone functions efficiently while wearing those labels. There can even be situations at Wikiversity that replicate the conventional learner/teacher relationship in wiki format, such as when a teacher brings students to Wikiversity from a conventional classroom. However, new namespaces are almost never the best solution to organizing things in a wiki. One powerful and flexible tool available to us is the "template". In particular, use of "userbox templates" has become the established way of quickly informing other wiki participants about one's interests and skills. See for example User:Teemu. --JWSchmidt 15:14, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
I agree with the userbox route - one could put multiple userboxes on a page and say "this user is a teacher of ...", "this user is a student of ...", or even combinations of these. --HappyCamper 15:36, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

I was pondering that further after I put the original idea here. Was thinking about my own experience and how I would regard myself as a "student" of technical writer, but I am keen to get involved in developing the theology school - when time allows - which I would imagine make me a "teacher" in that sense. The userbox idea looks very useful. AlistairReece 05:46, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

As I go from page to page at Wikiversity my role changes. On one page I might be trying to teach another participant something. On the next page I might be trying to learn from other Wikiversity editors. My role can even change on the same page, depending on who else is editing the page. In general, I just think of myself as a Wikiversity participant. We are all collaborating to create a community and environment that facilitates learning. In a wiki community, actions are what counts, and the actions are page edits. If your edits help me with my learning goals, then I guess you could say I'm your student. --JWSchmidt 14:30, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Learning and Thinking

lol May have to wait for an alumni club to publish testimonials, rags to riches stories, etc. and attempt to compare to other prestigious institutions. I wonder if we could get the traditional magazines who rank credentialed institutions to starting a ranking or selection or evaluation guide for institutions with no accreditation? 70.110.62.240 01:11, 26 November 2007 (UTC)