FamilySearch Wiki:Contributors Meeting 16 May 2013

Revision as of 13:42, 16 May 2013 by AdkinsWH (talk | contribs) (comments re:new design of state and country pages)

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Introduce new members

  • Updating the discussions and proposals page

Kudos go to ... 

Updates and follow up


Community Council Report

  • Discussed the council minutes
  • David talked about the Wiki in 2 presentation - immigration topics where Wiki was used.

Tom Jones thinks the Wiki will become one of the most important tools genealogists will use.


Business/Announcements

  • New design for US state & country pages? -- janellv (talk| contribs) 18:16, 16 May 2013 (UTC)
    • When people come to state/country pages, they don't pay attention to the topics column: redesign so it is organized differently -- the entire page becomes more of a table of contents
    • Questioned that the premise was accurate. Personal experience in teaching people to use the Wiki. Others have not experienced the problem
    • eye tracking - people who are used to the Wiki use the topics list; what about first-time users. Can we integrate the links into sections on the page --
    • User testing -- they would look for birth, marriage, and death -- (and parents)
    • Screen space (above the fold) is precious.
    • Wiki is not for beginner to genealogy, but a Wiki beginner
    • Navigation box at the top of state pages: so much on it would be intimidating
    • Concerned that we sacrifice the usefulness for wiki users for the new wiki users.
    • Idea: when researching for a certain record type
    • Most-used records would be above the fold. Really useful ones first. Pull those out is helpful.
    • Careful with most usable. Most success under other topics. Researchers probably have already exhausted the commonly-used. It's the records that are not common and explanations
    • horizontal layout is more intimidating.
    • Play with it and have it user tested
    • Program called Balsamic? Mock up program. Mock up and test
  • Citation coding removed from Historical Records pages. Coverage tables added to HR pages. Dorothy Horan, User Guidance Supervisor 18:54, 16 May 2013 (UTC)

New Agenda Items


Priority items for this meeting:

  • Item:  Collapsible Nav Boxes  See Example on Mike Kehoe's Sandbox 
  • Goal for this item: Do we want to use them on the wiki?
  • Steps to achieve this goal:
  • Assignments and dates of completion:
  • Evaluation date:



Be bold, post your agenda items!

Feel free to post on the agenda any items you wish to discuss during the meeting. If your item requires details or feedback, post them on the discussion page and link to them from the agenda. Possible topics include:
  • Moderator and Adopters
  • Style Guide Discussions
  • Project Help Requests
  • Training Requests
  • Improve the Wiki


Purpose of the meeting

Improve the Wiki

  • Forge solutions with other community contributors.
  • Share best practices, ideas, and content.
  • Discuss current issues, community matters, and strategies.
  • Move issues to decision.