Encyclopedia talk:Main Page
Main Page | talk | Archive 1 (August) | Archive 2 (September)
Unlock the Main page
Greetings all! I think we need to make the Main page more immediately visually accessible - in other words, what Wikiversity is and what you can do there. I'm not such a whizz at Mediawiki design, so I'd appreciate any help in making a better page layout. I can then help with adding and creating links.. Cormaggio 12:30, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
Main page (lowercase p) should be the name of Wikiversity's Main page.
- Wikiversity page naming conventions suggest Main page, not Main Page. Someone with admin status please make page lowercase.
- Wikiversity's front door belongs at the front -- in the main namespace -- not burried in the Wikiversity: namespace. Someone with admin status please make it so.
--Rogerhc 19:09, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
Is it really necessary to protect the main page in its first few days of existence? --Fang Aili talk 17:20, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
- I just undid it, but it should probably be redone tonight whenever the last admin goes to bed. Right now there are plenty around to take care of any vandalism that may happen. -- sebmol ? 17:23, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
- Wikiversity:Main Page/Design could be used for edits. This idea is discussed in Page organization subsection below. Doug 19:37, 15 August 2006 (UTC)
Unlock the Main Page please. Alternatively, please give me admin power so that I can edit it. Thanks. --Rogerhc 00:50, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- What's wrong with it? The main page is open for editing by all users, but the pieces are templated in from other locations.--Rayc 00:57, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- Thank you for pointing this out; I hadn't thought of that. I am satisfied to edit the relevant template and can find it. I'd like to move some pages so that their titles follow the lowercase second and subsequent words, except proper nouns naming convention and update links to them in the template. If the templates are not locked I will do so another day. Ran out of time today. Thanks! :-) Rogerhc 06:25, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- Why do you want to do that? -- sebmol ? 08:04, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- See Wikiversity_talk:Naming_conventions#Capitalization for why. :-) Rogerhc 18:44, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- I'm sorry but I don't agree with that reasoning. Personally, I prefer title case because it's what people are used to when reading titles. That may not be a very strong argument but neither are the ones for lower case that I've seen at that page. Anyway, I'm also not a fan of someone writing a rule that differs from convention and subsequently referring to it as the basis for changing things. Nor do I find it particularly appealing to run around policing page titles and section headings. -- sebmol ? 21:37, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- I don't see why it has a title at all. The main page at wikipedia is a special page that doesn't even have a title.--Rayc 23:15, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- See Wikiversity_talk:Naming_conventions#Capitalization for why. :-) Rogerhc 18:44, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- Why do you want to do that? -- sebmol ? 08:04, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
- Thank you for pointing this out; I hadn't thought of that. I am satisfied to edit the relevant template and can find it. I'd like to move some pages so that their titles follow the lowercase second and subsequent words, except proper nouns naming convention and update links to them in the template. If the templates are not locked I will do so another day. Ran out of time today. Thanks! :-) Rogerhc 06:25, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
Images on Main page
Can we protect the image that is on the main page as well? --HappyCamper 17:38, 23 August 2006 (UTC)
- Image:Discoveryclassroom.jpg -- I like this woman and girl at a computer image on the Main page. Thanks for putting it up! Very nice. --Rogerhc 05:05, 1 October 2006 (UTC)
- Image:Missione_del_Guaricano-bimbi_a_scuola.jpg -- This one is great, too. Nice work. --Rogerhc 23:25, 3 October 2006 (UTC)
- I've changed some other ones (ie Image:ScienceOlympiad.jpg and Image:Learning bongos.jpg), mainly because I felt that the ones that I replaced (Image:Computer lab showing desktop PCs warwick.jpg and Image:Internetcafe.png) didn't reflect learning of any kind. I'd also prefer to find a 'better' lecturer than the founder of IKEA for Friday's image, but maybe that's just my non-business personality talking... Cormaggio 10:40, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
- Should we have images that "reflect learning of any kind" on the main page of Wikiversity? Wikiversity is about using computer-based technology to support learning. An image showing people using comuters makes me think of online learning by Wikiversity participants. I have been trying to keep a record of past and current main page images. --JWSchmidt 12:56, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
- The images I replaced were of 1) an empty room of computers (ie no people, no learning), and 2) an image of an internet cafe (where the content on the computers looked a bit more like gaming than learning). Now, obviously, gaming can include learning and vice versa, and people can learn (formally and informally) whilst in internet cafes, but I just didn't (personally) feel that it was a good image for someone to see, in an image, what Wikiversity was about. Maybe a better image from an internet cafe might be better? But, anyway, thanks for keeping that list - that's useful. Cormaggio 20:51, 4 October 2006 (UTC)
project page picture
why were Image:South African classroom.jpg chose. Is wiki international? I mean that it which explain all people should be choose.
- It was changed from a bunch of dead white guys. It's an exact opposite picture and a stop gap until we get a random picture function or a logo to put their.--Rayc 18:28, 16 September 2006 (UTC)
Engineering PORTAL
the engineering link on the main page needs to go to Portal:Engineering and Technology, not School:Engineering
- Changed it. Now the comSci people will have a 3 click path to there page from main. --Rayc 18:43, 16 September 2006 (UTC)
- That is ok, since before it was a 5 click path because you kept getting redirected to the wrong place. Damien Black 22:04, 16 September 2006 (UTC)
the engineering link was changed back to School:Engineering... why is it the only school there and why isn't it pointing to Portal:Engineering and Technology? Damien Black 23:27, 16 September 2006 (UTC)
- Well, It might of been because of the main page switch over, though if not, there probably is a good reason for it. Math also has a school on the main page.--Rayc 03:26, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
Main Page picture
This new picture on the Main Page is certainly looking better than the previous one, and it associates on school and learning more efficiently, but its big problem is that there are no people in it at all. And since this aspect is very important, if I had to choose between them, I'd choose the old happy corridor instead of this sad abandoned lonely classroom. The old picture reflects the Wikiversity's openness and community way better than this looking-good, but wrong-message-sending one. --George D. Bozovic talk 23:22, 16 September 2006 (UTC)
- Oh, I see, the pictures are changing daily. Good idea! --George D. Bozovic talk 01:08, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
An empty lecture hall isn't very wiki-ish, in my view, but I understand what "beta" means and will be back to see the steady improvements. Thanks for all the efforts. | Gardner Campbell 18:02 24 September 2006 (UTC)
Main Page: New Design
Nice design. Congratulations to the designers. User:205.189.97.202/Sig
- Yes, thank you very much to Trevor MacInnis and David Levy for their talented and extensive work in creating and refining the new main page design. Thank you also to everyone who shared input and comments. :) --Reswik 01:28, 21 September 2006 (UTC)
Motto for Wikipedia?
"Help create a motto and a slogan for Wikipedia." It should be Wikiversity, shouldn't it? –Dilaudid 21:47, 21 September 2006 (UTC)
- Thanks for the hint, I've changed it. How embarrassing...-- sebmol ? 21:51, 21 September 2006 (UTC)
- That makes me laugh. <chuckle> 205.189.97.202 02:18, 22 September 2006 (UTC)
Talk archive
Done talk needes to be deleted or archived to give focus to current talk. Archiving done talk for a month on a separate page provides users a place to check up on done talk they initiated, more graceful than deleting directly. If you can improve this, please do. Ideas? Thanks! :-) Rogerhc 04:27, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
- I don't understand what you mean by this. Most of the time I just make a page like Wikiversity talk:Main Page/Archive 1 and place all of the non-current talk on there. You shouldn't ever completely delete anything. --Mateo 18:05, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
- I'll see if I can write a bot to auto archive the talk page, or better yet, find a bot that's already been written. --Draicone (talk) 23:15, 26 September 2006 (UTC)
- w:User:Werdnabot might be useful, operated by w:User:Werdna – 86.138.33.165 22:39, 29 September 2006 (UTC)
- If somebody is willing to give me approval and operate as a liason, then I can activate Werdnabot here. Werdna 09:09, 9 October 2006 (UTC)
- w:User:Werdnabot might be useful, operated by w:User:Werdna – 86.138.33.165 22:39, 29 September 2006 (UTC)
- I'll see if I can write a bot to auto archive the talk page, or better yet, find a bot that's already been written. --Draicone (talk) 23:15, 26 September 2006 (UTC)
relation to wikipedia?
Does participation in this project require participation in wikipedia? I don't support wikipedia for a variety of reasons, but would like to edit here. What is the nature of the relationship between the two, beyond that they are owned by the same people. thanks. --Mateo 18:05, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
- Well, a number of editors here, including myself also edit Wikipedia, so that's a definite connection. Also, many policies, and indeed articles are adapated from Wikipedia as the project gets started. This project requires no participation in Wikipedia, so you shouldn't have to worry about that.--digital_me 01:51, 26 September 2006 (UTC)
UC Berkeley offers courses and symposia through Google Video
UC Berkeley offers courses and symposia through Google Video. Should each Wikiversity course link to the relevant videos, if any are available? --DavidCary 05:57, 30 September 2006 (UTC)
- I don't see why not. We encourage the use of learning materials, including those which cannot (due to technical or legal restrictions) be offered directly through Wikiversity. I'm not sure how many videos we'll actually have, however. --Draicone (talk) 09:22, 1 October 2006 (UTC)
General layout suggestions
I would like to suggest the following:
I think Wikiversity should, as a general layout devide in accordence
to the following hierarchy : ( the arrows are directed from high to low hierarchy.)
general schools(e.g chemistry, psychology --> more specific schools(analytical chemistry or
developmental psychology) --> courses --> lectures .
Under that hierarchy I think each lesson/lecture page should have side pages (like "edit this
page" and "discussion" ) in which a Q&A page from actual students and proffesors would be held.
I'm only suggesting a discussion on "the general layout" and not making a pinpointed suggestion.
If there is already a discussion on General layout somewhere then I'm truly sorry for I did
not find it anywhere. in that case, please move my suggestions to the right place.
--(User: Eshy, Israel - unregisterd Wikimediaist.)
- A way of using "schools" was developed during the period of time that Wikiversity existed at Wikibooks (see b:Wikiversity:Wikiversity Schools). In that system, one school does not contain other schools. The curent system for a hierarchy of academic subjects is described at Wikiversity:Namespaces and Wikiversity:Naming conventions.
- "each lesson/lecture page should have side pages (like "edit this page" and "discussion" ) in which a Q&A page from actual students and proffesors would be held" <-- I agree that Wikiversity needs to find good ways to promote discussions, question and answer sessions, debate, etc among participants. It is easy to make links to subpages that can hold discussions. Hopefully the wiki software will be improved so as to provide additional features such as threaded discussions that are easily searchable. --JWSchmidt 22:46, 30 September 2006 (UTC)