User:Wusauying/report

Kitty Wu's report based on her own experience of a new editor on Wikipedia.

Advice to Wikipedia
There are several advices for Wiki which I think Wiki can work on.


 * 1) In order to read any wiki page, everyone need to make an account and becomes a member of wikipedia. This account is also for them to make editing on wiki which they don't need to make another account for doing that. If possible, they need to provide their personal information, such as their school name and age. This step is to show identity and prevent trolls or any irresponsible users to damage the website, which everyone needs to take responsibility of their action.
 * 2) In order to help new users or new editors, there should be guiding video of how to editing and post clear notice on their main page for encouragement. I also recommend new users first using the "visual edit" format. After they began to understand how Wiki works and get used to doing editing, they can try a more difficult version of editing format, which Wikipedia should also say it after a new user set up their account.
 * 3) Create a new way to communicate between users, the current version that adding comment under each one's talk page is not effective. I suggest that Wiki can create a little chatroom under each category of topic, or directly chatting with some experienced Wiki editor which is a good way for encouraging new user to join the community.
 * 4) Create a status and level system for members, which other can see how long have you been an active member of wiki, and how many pieces have you been edited. It can be a numerical level or color difference of name or badge.
 * 5) If possible, work with schools, and teach this kind of classes in school during high school or university level.

My own experience
Before my page was deleted, most of the experience were gained through out the editing process. I have never taken Wikipedia so seriously as everyone including my teachers don't trust it. I heard a lot like "you should not include Wiki as your source" or "everyone can change the information on Wiki so they are not accurate". However, through out this experience, I changed my attitude toward Wikipedia, and I think it is quite trustworthy which I can get a basic understand of an issue here. I did not know that there are people who control the quality of the information before; yet, now I know know that there are many people who pay attention to those information that are wrong, and fix it. We can also know how other get their information and check out the quality of their sources. Most of the sources on Wiki are secondary sources which is more likely have a neutral tone, so it helps to ensure the creditability of the information. People leave comment onto your talk pages when they have suggestion or question, which makes me feel like I am not alone like working on my research page. After finished my page, I was satisfied and feel appreciate to this website and those contributors who gathering all these information voluntarily.

But after my page got removed, I can understand the problem of "everyone can edit the information". Even though your information are true, your effort can be eliminated just because some companies think your information are too detailed or too current. I realized most of the information on Wiki are the background information or those "old story". They prefer you to mention information like history and background of a company, instead of the detailing events. I also got to know WIkipedia likes to arrange their information into different types, and they like to move out those specialized materials to other website. Thus, my current understanding to wiki is that they want their information to get accurate and brief.

Connect my experience with course materials
During my editing process, I can understand why there are not many active editors. I have faced many different barriers during the process, such as technical challenge which I could not figure out how to make a table through talk page. If people don't even know how to use the format, how can they constantly being active in this website. Moreover, motivation is a big problem if Wiki wants more active users. When someone says they are editors on Wikipedia, we usually have question and curious why you do this, or we may think that these jobs are just for those experts. However, it is really important to tell everyone an idea that it is a norm to pay effort on Wiki, with a slogan that "if you read it, you will have a duty to give your knowledge back". I highly suggest that we have this class in high school, and makes it as a habit to edit and check information. Moreover, if everyone needs to have an Wiki account, and this account is often used for their school, it is helpful for users to feel being in group and as a member of Wikipedia. It helps them to have more motivation for them to be an active member.

After the deletion of my page, I also understand how much works and duties Wiki has. If there are bad faith users, they have to work a lot to remove their information on the website. It damages the community and put a lot burden for the system.

Improvement for the course
For the course duty, I suggest that we make simple editing before create a new page. For example, we make an edit every day for a week or so. It helps us to get used to the community, as well as learning through the progress.

I also think that we could show our editing works during class time, and talk about where we get the information. It helps us to create a bond-based community and telling everyone that we are not alone.