0
edits
FamilySearch Wiki:Accuracy and Collaboration: Difference between revisions
FamilySearch Wiki:Accuracy and Collaboration (view source)
Revision as of 02:24, 29 July 2008
, 29 July 2008no edit summary
No edit summary |
mNo edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
= Seed Content: FamilySearch Publications = | = Seed Content: FamilySearch Publications = | ||
In early 2007, FamilySearch directors decided to add all our published research advice content to the wiki and let the community edit it. We have also added content that has not yet been published, such as half sheets and registers used by patrons at the Family History Library. | In early 2007, FamilySearch directors decided to add all our published research advice content to the wiki and let the community edit it. We have also added content that has not yet been published, such as half sheets and registers used by patrons at the Family History Library. | ||
= Relationship between the Wiki and Paper Publications = | = Relationship between the Wiki and Paper Publications = | ||
As Family History Library authors engage the wiki, they wonder how their authoring of wiki pages and paper publications will mesh. How will they add previous updates of research outlines to wiki pages and vice-versa? Is there a way to write content once and have it appear in both media? | As Family History Library authors engage the wiki, they wonder how their authoring of wiki pages and paper publications will mesh. How will they add previous updates of research outlines to wiki pages and vice-versa? Is there a way to write content once and have it appear in both media? | ||
| Line 10: | Line 8: | ||
= Accuracy = | = Accuracy = | ||
Newcomers to a wiki often ask "What happens when beginners and experts collaborate? If a credentialed professional writes an article and a beginner edits it, won't the content be ruined? Why would experts want to subject their writings to editing by novices?" | Newcomers to a wiki often ask "What happens when beginners and experts collaborate? If a credentialed professional writes an article and a beginner edits it, won't the content be ruined? Why would experts want to subject their writings to editing by novices?" | ||
| Line 20: | Line 17: | ||
= The Writing Process and Single Sourcing = | = The Writing Process and Single Sourcing = | ||
Wiki pages evolve thousands of times faster than paper publications. As a wiki matures and its number of contributors reaches critical mass, its content quality comes to rival that of paper publications. At that point, the wiki becomes the tool of choice for anyone who wants current, accurate content. Since authors can contribute to a wiki anytime, they find themselves using it as their information repository. Since the community tends to iterate content 24/7, an author can post a new article on Pet Topic X and let the community improve it while he sleeps. Months later, when the author is assigned to write a paper publication on the topic, he finds the content already updated, ready and waiting on the wiki. To an author, the wiki experience is like having a whole team of research assistants. | Wiki pages evolve thousands of times faster than paper publications. As a wiki matures and its number of contributors reaches critical mass, its content quality comes to rival that of paper publications. At that point, the wiki becomes the tool of choice for anyone who wants current, accurate content. Since authors can contribute to a wiki anytime, they find themselves using it as their information repository. Since the community tends to iterate content 24/7, an author can post a new article on Pet Topic X and let the community improve it while he sleeps. Months later, when the author is assigned to write a paper publication on the topic, he finds the content already updated, ready and waiting on the wiki. To an author, the wiki experience is like having a whole team of research assistants. | ||
= Protecting Pages = | = Protecting Pages = | ||
Writers accustomed to a command-and-control publishing paradigm are sometimes challenged in transitioning to a community paradigm. We can learn a lot from Wikipedia. In Wikipedia, the only types of content that are “protected,” or locked against community editing, are those which are highly controversial or those which tend to attract vandals. For instance, articles on the Gaza Strip might be protected due to persistent battles between Palestinian and Israeli authors. On FamilySearch Wiki, we may choose to protect a page on Mormon research if we find anti-Mormon vandalism becomes a persistent issue. We will protect any pages on Church policy or doctrine, and we will restrict authoring on these two subjects to authors at FamilySearch headquarters. | Writers accustomed to a command-and-control publishing paradigm are sometimes challenged in transitioning to a community paradigm. We can learn a lot from Wikipedia. In Wikipedia, the only types of content that are “protected,” or locked against community editing, are those which are highly controversial or those which tend to attract vandals. For instance, articles on the Gaza Strip might be protected due to persistent battles between Palestinian and Israeli authors. On FamilySearch Wiki, we may choose to protect a page on Mormon research if we find anti-Mormon vandalism becomes a persistent issue. We will protect any pages on Church policy or doctrine, and we will restrict authoring on these two subjects to authors at FamilySearch headquarters. | ||
= Policies = | = Policies = | ||
Although any article regarding Church policy will be written solely by FamilySearch employees, we do want the community to help vet wiki policy and flag exceptions to wiki policy that we need to address. For instance, if a user added a page on how to scan family history photos and our policy didn't address whether such content was within the wiki's scope, users should be able to discuss the idea and make recommendations. Community participation in discussions of a wiki’s scope are very healthy, and help the wiki improve faster. | |||
Although any article regarding Church policy will be written solely by FamilySearch employees, we do want the community to help vet wiki policy and flag exceptions to wiki policy that we need to address. For instance, if a user added a page on how to scan family history photos and our policy didn't address whether such content was within the wiki's scope, users should be able to discuss the idea and make recommendations. Community participation in discussions of a wiki’s scope are very healthy, and help the wiki improve faster. | |||
[[Category:FamilySearch_Wiki]] | [[Category:FamilySearch_Wiki]] | ||
[[Category: Help]] | [[Category: Help]] | ||