Wikiversity:Colloquium/archives/April 2011

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Is there a wiki-project for open access scientific article (papers) literature?

Is there a wiki-project for open access scientific article (papers) literature? Meant to be free to read, not necessarily free to exploit commercially let alone make derivates in your own name.

A common pool for open access scientific articles event maybe with some peer review gizmo and a citation reference exporter.

--Heismark 12:33, 2 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

A good starting place to learn about open access science here on Wikiversity is to look at Wikiversity:Open Scientist and Open access journal. --mikeu ^talk 12:52, 2 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Also check Dan Mietchen (Mietchen) who did a presentation at the GLAM-WIKI event in London. He is involved to Coiaspedia.Leutha 22:18, 2 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

History of the Ottoman Empire Course

Hi! Height of the Ottoman Empire and quiz was opened. You can join at this course! Good works... --Berm@nya^message 15:58, 3 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Wikimedia Outreach

The Wikimedia Outreach site is putting together materials to publicize the efforts of the various wikis. Take a look at Outreach:Bookshelf/Wikiversity which at the moment only contains one document in German. We've started a translation of this, but much of the text is specific to de-wv so it will need to be customized. The draft is linked in my userspace at Outreach:User:Mu301/Wikiversity. Please jump in and help. --mikeu ^talk 16:55, 3 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

It would be nice if we could get some input about that from the instructors and students of the classes currently using WV. For example, Fluid mechanics for MAP seems to be a university course, and has become a very impressive resource. --SB_Johnny ^talk 11:54, 6 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Abd on JWSchmidt's talkpage

A lot of the comment that I've noticed Abd (talk • email • contribs • stats • logs • global account) has placed on JWSchmidt's talkpage appears to only serve to aggravate the situation, basically poking another member of the community for whatever wrongdoing he has committed in the past, and only reminding him of it. I would consider it disruptive. I have been trying, by way of hints and clues and attempting to abide by Civility policy, to warn Abd, and give him some friendly advice (albeit with a more aggressive tone this time to try to drive the point home), but he subsequently removed it and called it "abuse".

So I'm going to give a firm, short and stern "formal" warning to him: Abd, you have just been unblocked. Please stay away from John's talkpage. This is not just a recommendation. You should work on Cold fusion related articles instead, and do something a bit more productive with your time. He has already addressed this matter in private correspondence with me. There are also already plenty of custodians monitoring the situation, and ready to unblock JWSchmidt if he agrees to their proposed terms, or re-block if necessary with talkpage access removed. As for me, I am ambivalent as to whether or not JWSchmidt ought to remain blocked, since I have yet to assess the events leading up to the block. TeleComNasSprVen 22:35, 5 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

If JWSchmidt doesn't want Abd to post on his talk page, I assume he will say so, and I assume Abd will oblige. --SB_Johnny ^talk 11:51, 6 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

And you would be correct, SBJ. Thanks. --Abd 01:32, 7 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Separation

separation←how can i separate gylcerin from water41.95.8.63 06:19, 6 April 2011 (UTC)Abdelrhman Taha[reply]

I don't know what was intended, but this question was originally posted as if it were a rhetorical question about the section above, titled "Abd on JWSchmidt's talkpage". Glycerin (presumably) and water? What does the brother with the same name as me, meaning "servant of The Merciful," who is apparently from Mauritius, -- welcome to Wikiversity -- want to know for? If not for the fact that glycerin is useful for making high explosives, I'd just answer! -- though I did want to ask others where questions like this should go. --Abd 01:31, 7 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Abdelrhman Taha, you're in luck! This is one of the many free services provided by the US embassy in your country. Free extraordinary rendition to Syria for further information services sometimes is possible. Act now while offer is still valid. Offer void in California, Ohio and Virginia. (Seriously, Googling shows many other possibilities; but the reason for the process requested is needed: e.g. medical purpose? (purity is needed) industrial process? (mass quantities are handled differently). Googling shows salt can be used - is there a reason you can't use Google to explore this? WAS 4.250 04:01, 8 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

khanacademy.org

Khanacademy.org does need some help with subtitles. Maybe we can provide help with translation? Licenses are compatible, so the text files could be converted to and from wiki format and could be stored in wikiversity. [1] --Bernhard Fastenrath 13:09, 7 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

They are going to use http://www.universalsubtitles.org/en/. --Bernhard Fastenrath 09:03, 8 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

vina morales

--112.198.201.188 06:55, 6 April 2011 (UTC) hi im darlen d. lopez i want u to be my chat mate.[reply]

No offense, darlin', darlen, or darlene, whatever it is, but if anyone wonders why this is here, ask TeleComNasSprVen, who restored it after I'd removed it. I won't revert war to keep it out.... but anyone else may remove this section, including my own comment, fine with me. --Abd 00:48, 9 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

No offense Abd, but you were quick to call the edits "relationship spam" and reverted this newbie's edits with an inappropriate and "bitey" comment. I'll modify your comments if I think they aren't in line with policy. TeleComNasSprVen 19:17, 9 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I'm happy for the community to sort this, once it notices it. There was only one edit, by the way, not "edits," cross-wiki, it stands above at this moment. And if any custodian -- or anyone other than TCNSV -- thinks my removal of this edit was improper, please warn me on my talk page. --Abd 20:23, 9 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

studytelevision.com

Could that be useful for Wikiversity: http://studytelevision.com/ ? --Bernhard Fastenrath 13:09, 7 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, it would be. if several projects come together on Wikiversity, than the chance is larger that you will get extra participants in them.Daanschr 18:57, 9 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

It should be noted though that wikiversity doesn't ask for fees to look at materials. This is a volunteer project, just like the other Wikimedia Foundation projects.Daanschr 19:01, 9 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I thought it might be interesting to link to studytelevision.com and/or khanacademy.org from courses for pupils. Pupils may be interested to use Wikiversity but may benefit from the pseudo-interactivity of a video clip sometimes. --Bernhard Fastenrath 13:56, 10 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, that is right. I had the idea to do something with YouTube as well.Daanschr 22:16, 10 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Culture of Nigeria

Hello sir/ma'am,

Please, I need an article that talks on the culture of Nigeria in full detail.

Thank you in advance for helping me out.

--Wisdom 13:56, 13 April 2011 (UTC)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Nigeria - WAS 4.250 15:24, 13 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Presentation at Wikimedia UK AGM, 16 April 2011

Please see Wiki in the lecture room. Leutha 11:51, 15 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Tool to automatically create cloze tests

Hi. I've submitted a proposal to create a MediaWiki extension to automatically create cloze tests, as part of the Google Summer of Code. I've uploaded a demo of the extension to Commons (see video below). Is Wikiversity interested in such an extension?

An experimental version of the extension.

The project description is available here. Drakefjustin 15:21, 16 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Is there any place at all in the wiki world for an idea to be sold for profit?

--Kbird74 04:07, 18 April 2011 (UTC) I know for the most part the websites you create are free. But lets say I were to come up with an innovative browser app. One that would instantly generate a substantial added value to the average internet users online experience.[reply]

My proprietary app would be designed specifically to interface with Wikipedia/Wikiversity. What if this single idea were so powerful in the eyes of a typical web user, that your website suddenly became swarmed with millions of new and soon to be loyal wiki regulars. In the process, more then doubling your daily user base.

As an added bonus to scratch your back, I could easily design this app to encourage contributers to help with your editing needs. Along with mounds of top notch content sources that could be referenced along the way. Would you let me charge a fee for my web app, if I were to sell it on say google apps?

I don't imagine any issue with this from a Wikimedia Foundation point of view. -- Jtneill - Talk - c 05:25, 18 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Carl Rogers word game

I just got done with some pretty extensive writing on Rogers' 19 point organismic phenomenological field theory (OPFT), and his theory is actually pretty cool. I apologize in advance for the dry "APA" style, but I would fail otherwise! The reason that it is cool is that it looks at therapy as a way for people to get on track irrespective of whatever. If an organism is allowed to interrelate to socially evolve naturally, especially during infancy, nothing else seems to matter. In other words we can overcome all the challenges through proper interrelation.

The problem is that the theory looks like he wrote it on the subway during rush hour. I created a Rogers 19 point theory class. I took all the important words, and I believe they can be reassembled in any way to have meaning, and I think, anyway, it might be fun and therapeutic. (So far, people have tried to interpret the theory line by line, which is, of course, not conceptual.)

The real issue is self and experience, which are connected by process, which is a universal weak point as fragile process. Usually they mean some really difficult issues, such as Borderline Personality Disorder, but I think its universal as we all get disassociated at some time or other, and it isn't fun. David Hume thought process was God, Freud thought it was ego...--JohnBessa^talk 03:59, 20 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Internet Syllabus and Learning Project

It's time for a Wikiversity-developed, Internet-based Syllabus for each grade-Pre-K through PhD and beyond into the lifelong, continuing education model. People, society, technology may be moving faster than static programs can keep up with. At the very least a better match between learned skills, fact-based education (actually the easiest part) and career-based solutions-oriented thinking requirements offers much opportunity. Why an Internet Syllabus ? (And it logically follows that the Syllabus becomes the"textbook," driving the links and depth of knowledge base that makes learning happen). Educational costs have become way out of whack with what is accomplished, and technology based education overcomes this lack and focuses on expediting achievement and most importantly, LEARNING HOW TO THINK. See "They can All Be Geniuses." [2] I suspect, and hope, that the hundreds of thousands of good minds who contribute, teach, write and develop Content could, and would, polish such a Syllabus into the premier learning instrument of the 21st Century, and use the Syllabus as a gateway develop to written, audio and video content to enrich the learning experience to a degree heretofore unequaled. In "Geniuses," I suggested that the learning process, unimpeded by mediocrity-driven "dumbing down" slowest learners hold back the rest, teacher/instructor-focused-on-stand-up lecturing and blackboard exposition, could be revolutionized into an AI-based, learn-at-whatever-speed-you-want, mentor-based, Socratesian-style learning process, with applications and solutions-based learning processes and environments the goal, the prime goal. Whew! There are hurdles to be sure; there are logistical problems, sociological difficulties, and more to be managed. But, this is not only doable, it is the next step! It must be done, and the technology is here, or nearly here, to do it. We would miss a great opportunity not to take advantage of the juxtaposition of need and capability to produce many, many more thinking geniuses to solve the problems that are multiplying in the world.

who?--John

Bessa^talk 16:50, 27 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Research page on Biology?

i will create research page on biology. how may create it? please --Mekkiwik 15:30, 26 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Please tell us more about what you want to do. --Abd 16:43, 26 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Hello, I participate in origins 2011 at Montpellier:

Origins 2011 ISSOL and Bioastronomy Joint International Conference Montpellier, France, July 3rd-8th 2011 http://www.origins2011.univ-montp2.fr/

And i will publish here my work. The abstract is there:

prebiotic chimio-osmose

abstract

By applying the chimio-osmotic's P. Mitchell theory to one system of liposomes and ionophores, in a abiogenic environment, this work conclude to the formation of functionals membranes proteins and metabolism's initialization into the liposome by this system.

Then the metabolism is not conceived as a lot of chemicals reactions in a synchronous network, submited to the thermodynamics laws, but as tow coupled networks of protons and electrons submited to electromagnetics laws and whose structures are imbeded in the membrane, created and maintened by the chimio-osmotic process.

The simultaneous evolutions of metabolism, structures and chimio-osmotic process reinforce them mutually each other and could lead to one organism that evolve coherently (consistently).

In the early molecular evolution, each part of the system reproduce himself independantly from each other. Liposomes can integrate abiogenics phospholipides or those synthetised by the new metabolism, and than split up into tow parts, without dammaging grouped membranes proteines ( the structures ).

Oligo-nucleotides can self-duplicate by matching nucleics acids bases.

Two copies of oligo-nucleotides can link, by hydrogen binding, two groups of amino-acids quitly identicals, integrated into the membrane on the internal liposome side and positioned by the chimio-osmotic process. This amino-acids groupe reproduction, mediated by the oligo-nucleotides copies, begin the translation process that we know in the living organism.

The coordinated reproductions of this 3 parts must be planed in later detailed study of ribosomes and translation.

The hypothesis of geochimical petrol pocket formation is planed in this work as prebiotic environment of chimio-osmotic process. This hypothesis is issued from laboratory and in-situ works on origins of life in hydrothermales fields of mid oceanics ridges.

This sounds interesting, though I have no clue what it means ;) When/if you post the work, keep in mind that people coming here to learn have varying degrees of expertise. This means that I think your best bet is to start the article with easy to understand categories, and then make the information more sophisticated as you delve into the topic. For instance, start with "what is it," "what is it good for," "what are the basic meanings," "what does my research do?" Then move to greater complexity -- experts can always look at the table of contents and the skip down to the "meat of the matter." Good luck! --John

Bessa^talk 16:57, 27 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

It's a little forbidding to have a top-level article, straight-out in mainspace, that can't be understood by the average literate reader -- or editor. As editors, we need to make sure that mainspace isn't overwhelmed with fringe ideas and unaccepted -- and maybe unacceptable -- original research. Wikiversity does allow original research, but I've been suggesting that it be placed in subpages, identified as such. Mekkiwik, help us out! Identify your general topic and, if it doesn't exist, create a resource on it, surely you'd be qualified to easily do so. Then you can link an essay or research paper on a subpage. Unlike Wikipedia, Wikiversity allows subpages in mainspace, and it's a great feature, because you can go into great detail on a subpage, lots of space can be devoted to discussion of your topic, etc. My special field of interest is Cold fusion, and, while there is a lot of work to be done on that resource, you might get some ideas there. Cold fusion is controversial in the real world, with many physicists still believing it's impossible, but there is ongoing research and publication in mainstream journals. Good luck, and if you need help, I'd be happy to make suggestions, you can ask me on my Talk page.

Who?--John

Bessa^talk 17:35, 30 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

basic queries

--Anandjha 12:57, 28 April 2011 (UTC) in what way this colloquium be used? can this be used to ask questions pertaining to academic/nonacademic areas?[reply]

You ask a question which cannnot easily be answered. But that in itself highlights what the answer might be. Leutha 00:49, 30 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

We have a help desk, but it gets a lot less use.--John

Bessa^talk 17:36, 30 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The English Wikipedia has a place where you can ask questions here. Devourer09 (t·c) 18:03, 30 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

what makes sense?

--Confused sanjay 17:26, 9 April 2011 (UTC) Does our life makes any sense. i mean why are we living, waiting for things to happen.People around us,what actually they are to us. Most of all my existence makes me think a lot about it but i am never sure about anything that comes to my mind. Why doesn't it makes any sense?[reply]

According to Nietzsche, life is meaningless. But, the good thing about being human is that you can forget and just go on with your life. My take on it, is that the meaning of life is to get a couple of pints in a pub so now and than and chase beautiful girls! Daanschr 18:54, 9 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Perhaps, Sanjay, you are looking for meaning in a place where it doesn't exist. What is "meaning"? What is "sense"? Do these words have any ... "meaning"? Who is Nietzsche and why should we pay any special attention to him? Indeed, what does "why" mean?

These are questions that might have no "true" answer but that are well worth asking! Let me put it this way, to paraphrase a school of practice that I've been working with lately, Life is meaningless and "Life is meaningless" is meaningless. This becomes, amazingly, comprehensible, when we have a working knowledge of what "meaning" is, within the world of this statement.

So, Sanjay, allow me to ask, "How do you know that it doesn't make any sense?" Are you saying that you experience contradiction? What contradiction? If you experience or think X, sometimes, and not-X, sometimes, do you think this is a contradiction? If so, why? --Abd 19:10, 9 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"Who is Nietzsche and why should we pay any special attention to him?" I think we need to pay attention to him because of all this "superman" stuff. He opposed antisemitism, but still cannot shake his connection to Nazism. I think it means that if you attempt to rise above common natural life, you become cynical, and life becomes meaningless, and you start with the "uber mensch" stuff. I recently discovered Paul Thomas Young who was one of those people who worked with the aggregation of experience to lay the basis for "life" models, such as the Rogers' 19 point personality model that I have been writing about. There is a whole world out there that isn't Nietzsche, Buber, Jung, Frankl, Perls, etc.--John

Bessa^talk 17:14, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Maybe you should attempt to assing meaning yourself? If you have a scientific outlook on life (assuming that you do) then the meaning of life probably cannot originate somewhere in the physical universe. You have to give meaning to what you consider valuable. Of course you may assign meaning to the words of a religion that may or may not transcend the meaning of the physical world, but otherwise here is a list of concepts you might want to consider meaningful by themselves (without the need for an authority to assign their meaning):


Honesty	Independence, Self-reliance	Reliability
Helpfulness	Manners, ~~Propriety~~	Moral responsibility
Kindness	Politeness	Diligence
Tolerance	~~Sense of duty~~	~~Discipline~~
Sense of justice	Trustworthiness	~~People skills~~
Future prospects	Meaning	Values
Self-confidence	Sense of responsibility	Understanding for others
Fantasy	~~Self-criticism~~	Sense of family
~~School performance~~	~~Obedience~~	Religiousness
Self-control	~~Frustration tolerance~~	Conflict ability
Psychological resilience	Health awareness	Interpersonal skills
Group membership, group skills	Empathy	~~Enjoyment and~~ experience process	Community
Enjoyment of life	Dreams	~~Emotional competence~~
~~Assertiveness~~	~~Critical faculties~~

(from the The Parents, Teachers, Friends Testing Guide for Dummies)

Please feel free to add your own ideas to the list in The Parents, Teachers, Friends Testing Guide for Dummies. --Bernhard Fastenrath 12:48, 10 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

There are a few I don't like here, will it upset anyone if I strike them out?--John

Bessa^talk 17:04, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

OK, I did it. I don't mean to eliminate your ideas, just the wording. It seems oligarchic, to be honest, and not about self, responsibility and community, which where I think you are going with this.--John

Bessa^talk 17:42, 30 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

There wasn't much point to changing them, however. They were collected results from three different studies published in the family handbook of the Bavarian State Institute for Early Education (www.familienhandbuch.de). --Bernhard Fastenrath 07:20, 4 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

By striking, I meant to find better words since so many words can have double-meaning. I happen to be writing about research validity right now (taking a break), and I can tell you that this is not universally valid. Annoying people use assertion to be annoying and it is tempting, for example, to be assertive to make them go away. But my approach has been to look for some threat in the environment that is causing their assertive behavior, just as their assertive behavior is a threat of some kind to me. Also, there is no question that Community belongs at the top of the page, and that there needs to be structure developed based on need.

Wiki and esp the Wv is about deconstruction-reconstruction (which is a component of wikiology), partly to prevent plagiarism, partly to implement inquiry, but mostly to wiki-ize, which means developing new concepts on top of existing (and inquired) constructs. The Wikipedia denies original research, and hence new information, but it actually constructs new information simply because it is wiki.--John

Bessa^talk 17:12, 4 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life - WAS 4.250 16:58, 12 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I just finished a lot of work on humanistics and existentialists. The New World (or No. American) approach is distinct and much more positive. The humanistics, pragmatists, synergists do give life a lot of meaning, and because they are phenomenological their ideas seem to fit will with an evolutionary tendency or "will" to love and beauty that gives depth to self-actualization. I guess the opposite to successful self-actualization is depression, and perhaps repression.--JohnBessa^talk 16:54, 29 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Wiki Index. Request for comments

Hello. What are the possibilities of copying the Wiki Index to here? Please see:

Wv has the same open license as the Wikipedia, so I imagine you can do whatever you want so long as wikiindex extends the license, or something like that.--John

Bessa^talk 16:53, 27 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

It looks like Wiki Index is using CC-BY-SA. This is linked on all their pages:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

So I guess people can feel free to copy over whatever they want:

http://wikiindex.org/Special:Export

I suggest copying this info:

http://wikiindex.org/Category:MediaWiki_wiki_farms --Timeshifter 06:16, 28 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Now that I am looking at new pages, I am seeing the category issues first hand. I see indexing as an intermediary solution to organize the Wv, but, to be frank, does it raise SEO (the currency of the Web)? Among things that have preplexed me most of my life are the words "College of Arts and Sciences" on an old building on the U. of Wash. campus. Art and Science carved into the same stone? Using that concept, I am suggesting a "College or Arts and Sciences" or ArtSci, that is the Art of Science (to explain phenomena), and the Science of Art which includes the "why" of Art, and its supporting technology (paint, brushes, film, etc). The college differentiates learning (and teaching if you must) from research which is personal. ArtSci would be both an entry point (as in a portal) and entry-level and leverage wiki to move people quickly to expert. Enabling the information would be about using categories and indexes to structure text which is otherwise a "core dump" or "wall of text." In this context Math would be applied, as very few people are purely mathematical yet all of us use it; applied means that math is accessible and graphic and not cloistered and cryptic.--John

Bessa^talk 14:36, 19 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]

What content would we be transferring from WikiIndex? If content is moved from there I feel we need to make sure that it's within the scope of the WV project. Devourer09 (t·c) 20:39, 19 May 2011 (UTC)[reply]