Wikipedia:United States Education Program/Courses/Behavioral Ecology (Joan Strassmann)/Creating Account

Behavioral Ecology Wikipedia Assignment

GETTING STARTED: CREATING YOUR WIKIPEDIA ACCOUNT USER PAGE AND SANDBOX

1.	 Register for Wikipedia

Wikipedia allows for any user to create or edit an entry without registering, but registration is required for this assignment so that we can confirm that you created the entry. To create an account, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page.

In the upper right corner is a link entitled Log In / create account. Click on the link and follow the directions listed to create your account. After you have created your username, you will be redirected to a page, which states “Login successful.”

2.	 Create a User Page

To give an added level of legitimacy to your Wikipedia account, you must create a user page. To do this, simply click on your newly created account name, which appears in red in the upper right hand corner of the Wikipedia interface. You will then be redirected to your user page, which should have a header that reads “User:” In order to create your user page, click on the link towards the upper right hand corner of the Wikipedia interface which says “Create.”

After clicking on the “Create” link, you will be redirected to a page with a header that reads “Editing User:” with a large text box. In the large text box compose 2-3 sentences about yourself, indicating that you are a student, and highlight your interests and areas of Wikipedia you wish to contribute. User pages are intended to supplement work done on Wikipedia and should contain limited personal information.

Scroll below and click “Save Page.” At this point the link containing your account name will change in color from red to blue indicating that a linked page now exists.

To see an example of a well-developed user page by a Wikipedia Ambassador, you may view this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Slin2264 and to see an example of a standard user page view the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:FaithSara. You are encouraged to develop your Wikipedia user page over the course of the semester.

3.   Create a Sandbox (Click on “My Test Area” on the blue strip in your user page)

The sandbox feature of Wikipedia is a place where you can start and edit your contribution until you are ready to fully release it on Wikipedia. You will create a sandbox inside your user space. This sandbox will allow you to practice Wikipedia syntax and editing without being fully held to the standards in Wikipedia:Manual of Style. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style. You will work on your article in this space until after the workshop, at which point you will move it to the regular part of Wikipedia.

Instructions:

1.	Go to your user page (space you are in after you click on your Username) and click “Edit” (among the options on top right).

2.	In the textbox go to the line after the sentences describing yourself and type. This will create a sandbox link with an illustrative picture.

3.	Scroll below the box and click on "Save page" to save the changes.

4.	Do what it takes so you show up on the course page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:USEP/Courses/Behavioral_Ecology_%28Joan_Strassmann%29/

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Attribution: This version is modified from the original work of Diana Strassmann.