User talk:Cormaggio/Archive 4

Resource/reference namespace
Hi, thanks for the hint. Yes, that goes in the direction I am imagining. I like the idea that articles must not have direct external references but must go through an intermediate level of references. This seems to make life harder on the first look but would actually be very usefull. You can see on that site for each reference which articles are using it. That is useful. And you could add abstracts, annotations and reviews and discuss a sources credibility etc. on the article about the source instead of in your article or its talk page. I have also seen that there is a Meta project called Wikicat, but I have not yet had the time to really look at what they are doing there and if that project in the present form covers what I am thinking about. I think I should go there and ask them. What I imagine is a site that would be outside Wikipedia, Wikiversity etc. because it provieds references for all. It would also be multi language. The "reference cards" should have a structured part with the bibliographic information plus a free from part that is multilanguage. If such an object is created, either from an import from a library server or by an author or reader entering it, it would immediately be visible for all languages. You could then add new text parts in different languages. For example, initially the text could be in english, but somebody else could then add a french or japanese text part on a parallel page (maybe users could define a sequence of language preferences). Annotations, abstracts etc. for a reference can so be centralized instead of being dispersed over different articles using a reference. Discussions about the validity or quality of literature items could be moved out of single articles in Wikipedia etc. to the talk pages of such objects, making them visible from any article using that reference. References could be categorized by lots of overlapping categories, making traditional hierachical bibliographical signature systems obsolete (although these traditional classifications would still be included). Category-like information should be in categories, not in fields on the cards. The cards could include links to other cards with a "cites" meaning (and the software could offer the opposite "cited by"). It should be possible to annotate (fre form or partially formalized) such links in turn so that information like "a confirms b", "a rejects/contradicts b" could optionally be captured on the cards. This would especially be useful in the humanities/social sciences. There should be the possibility to group different editions, translations etc. into group entities (my first look at the Wikicat page indicates that they have included such features already). The data model could include pages on authors and institutions. The system could include an interface to a distributed system of library servers through which one could find the next library (archive, museum...) containing the referenced resource. Library servers could include interfaces to such a system. From the user's pint of view, this would look like one server (demanding project, but seems feasable to me). I am not sure to what extent these ideas are covered by the present wikicat project. In any cas there should be free form text space (i.e. if you overformalize, it becomes less usefull) and discussion pages attachable to each "card". Sorry for getting so lenghty. I think I will just carry this over to the Wikicat project's talk pageNannus 17:48, 3 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for the links
Hi, thanks for the welcome message and the links. To answer your question, I'm not unfamiliar with wikis in general (I have about 10 months experience on the English language Wikipedia), I was just really confused about what's going on here at Wikiversity. I was looking at some of the "articles" (I guess they're called "lessons" here), and they are written in a very conversational tone. Is that normal? Should I write as though I standing in front of my class? Can I upload the quizzes I've given in my Calculus courses throughout the years? If so, where? If so, would they even be the type of thing we're going for here? –King Bee (&tau; • &gamma;) 14:09, 8 March 2007 (UTC)


 * I guess my main problem is that I don't know where to do anything. If I want to create a tutorial on a certain technique of integration (a Calculus topic), where do I do it? I looked at the page Sequences and Series, and it looks horrible. Is that page supposed to be an overview of the entire topic, or should that page contain an introduction, and then spin-off pages for all the different types of techniques for determining the convergence of a sequence or a series? I understand that Wikiversity is relatively new, and it's probably not the case that all of these things are not necessarily decided yet, but I don't want to do a bunch of things "incorrectly." Does this make any sense? –King Bee (&tau; • &gamma;) 04:34, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

From Ali
Hi Cormac, how's things? I have a few questions about Wikiversity! Are you free for lunch any time soon?

AREOL - from DavidWDon
Cormac, I browsed at Wiki and was not feeling all that confident about my capacity to join in but decided to add my name to the Areol-wiki-list anyway. (It was easy - I copied some one else's note and changed it!). I hope I can make some useful contributions over the next three months. David Don

13/03/07 Au: Had a crack at editing wiki today - just thought I would record an observation that may be relevant to what you are looking at Cormac. Who would have thought it would be so anxiety-provoking to write in public. I guess I am still afflicted by the notion of the SACRED word and that novice 7 y.o. choir boy inside me trembles in awe. Exaggeration and symbolism aside, it is a bit nerve wracking for the novice. [N] dd

Beep
Hi Cormac - I'd like to join in the discussion, but I don't know how to use IRC! I thought it would be simple. Maybe I'll just edit beta... --HappyCamper 17:27, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

AEROL - Media Wiki Syntax: Stefanie
Hi Cormac, thank for the warm welcome! I've never used Media Wiki before, but I work a lot with a Plone CMS... Today I've learnt to use these handy subheadings and the signature feature. Maybe I'll get the knack on the linking syntax tomorrow... --Stefanie 13:58, 11 March 2007 (UTC)

Banning
Please ban user Firecrackerhan and IP 88.233.80.40. Thanks. --Remi 01:52, 12 March 2007 (UTC)
 * http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/Firecrackerhan
 * http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Special:Contributions/88.233.80.40

Hello
Yes I am finishing off a college program in audio production and engineering. I've started a small recording business as well. Let me know if there's anything you'd like me to expand on.Eb.eric 16:46, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

User seeks ... code
Just wanted to touch base and point you here: http://leuksman.com/log/2007/03/15/wikimedia-in-google-summer-of-code/ We should try to get our noses in their somehow, in any case ... it would be good if we can get the summer of code stuff to be routed through Wikiversity ... or at least a project. Lemme know your thoughts. Historybuff 15:22, 16 March 2007 (UTC)

Thanks for putting us on the plate there.

I noticed that the Grants Co-ord is now vacant (see here). I had two e-mails outstanding there ... any idea on where to move on with that? Thanks Historybuff 04:32, 22 March 2007 (UTC)


 * After e-mailing everyone you mentioned, I happened to be in #wm for something else and touched base with bastique. He's trying to be helpful, which is great. I haven't seen you much in IRC, I'm guessing you've been busy. Drop me a line, let me know when you might resurface. :) Historybuff 05:45, 7 April 2007 (UTC)

Quick update ... hope you had a happy bunny day. Am now doing a bit of "action research", vis a vis Wikimedia Canada. It looks like I might be starting a non profit. How the heck did that happen? :P I'm doing this with the end goal of getting funding for WV projects, so this is just a means to an end. I got 5 minutes earlier today with Brion, where he said he was busy, but we touched on the Sandbox Server. I'll leave it with him a few more days, and then ping him again. Hope things are well with ya. Historybuff 09:04, 11 April 2007 (UTC)

Signpost updated for March 20th, 2007.
You are receiving this message because you have signed up for the Signpost spamlist. If you wish to stop receiving these messages, simply remove your name from the list. Ral315 07:05, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

Furthering our collaborations between WikiVersity and WikiEducator
Greetings Cormaggio -

Following on our collaborations to explore the use and potential of pedagogical templates in our respective wikis, Kruhly @ WikiEducator has been doing some work exploring templates - which  might be of interest to WikiVersity.

To further our collaborations - I'd like to extend an open invitation to Wikiversity folk who may interested in submitting ideas and proposals for a Tectonic Shift Think Tank

The aim is:

''To refine the available technology infrastructure to radically scale up the development of a free curriculum for all levels of education which can be customized, modified and adapted for local needs without restriction. We recoginise the dignity of all educators and learners to become equal participants in transforming the digital divide into digital dividends.''

This is a visioning exercise which among other things, will help us identify future refinements for MediaWiki software. I suspect that this will also be of interest to many folk in your community. This is an open meeting - so if anyone is close enough to Vancouver to join in - please feel free to join us. We will be attempting remote participation via the Tectonic Shift pages on WikiEducator - so feel free to join in the discussion pages.

Perhaps a few folk from Wikiversity would like to collaboratively prepare a visioning statement/document on the wiki outlining your technology wishlist for the future of Mediawiki.

You will also see that on Day 1 we have a few visioning presentations - maximum of 15 minutes. Would you like to prepare a Open Office slide show which we could display remotely and connect via skype or teleconference? The time difference may be awkward - but I'm sure we can work something out.

Chat to you soon. --Mackiwg 18:03, 21 March 2007 (UTC)

PS - I'm very impressed with your Welcome template - WikiEducator should also adopt this neat idea.


 * Thanks Cormaggio - Enjoy your travels & if you can find a gap to knock something together, that would be great. I'd like to get Wikiversity's technology vision into the discussions. Check out Historybuff's availability and whether he/she would be keen to attend. Torronto is closer to Vancouver than other places - and possibly we can help with travel and accommodation.  --Mackiwg 16:51, 22 March 2007 (UTC)

Signpost updated for March 27th, April 2nd and 9th, 2007.
You are receiving this message because you have signed up for the Signpost spamlist. If you wish to stop receiving these messages, simply remove your name from the list. 75.5.231.38 08:15, 10 April 2007 (UTC)

probationary custodian request
As discussed at Requests for Custodianship I am willing to mentor User:Remi0o and he is willing to put up with me. If you agree, please make Remi0o a probationary custodian. (this request also made at User talk:Sebmol) --JWSchmidt 13:10, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

Reflective spiral
I answered to your petition in my talk page, so maybe you didn't read it. Basically it is "yes". --User:Jorge

Klingon
Thanks for your support. The Klingon wikipedia has moved to wikia, and the wiktionary should do likewise. My intention for the Klingon Language Department fits within the remit of Wikiversity, and is something I've been wanting to do for a while. It would be nice, however, to have more contributors... Jonathan Webley 17:01, 15 April 2007 (UTC)

Mandarin Chinese
Thanks for your comments. I wondered how long it would take to get noticed. Having Wikiversity as your PhD project sounds rather interesting and consuming, but very important. You can get started learning Chinese by learning the pronunciation of all the sounds and tones in the syllables in Lesson One, and then tell me how they should be pronounced once you become a Mandarin expert for your Wikimania gig in Taipei this year :)

New Course: Mandarin One
I started a list of Chinese courses and the course outline for Mandarin/Mandarin_One this weekend while learning how to make wiki pages. Things have been rather slow and boring at work this week so I am almost done with Lesson One (Pronunciation) in Mandarin One. I just need to find a way to get public domain Mandarin sounds, and then get them into Commons so it will be crystal clear how every syllable in Mandarin sounds in this lesson.

Purpose
After struggling with learning Chinese from the other sources of Mandarin infomation in other Wiki Projects I decided that actual online Mandarin courses should be provided to help clarify some of the information already out there. Disclaimer: I am not a Mandarin expert at all. I hope that an expert will help fix any mistakes that I might have made. The only qualification that I have to do this is a couple of years of frustration trying to learn this language before and after an adoption trip to Hunan over a year ago.

Goals
I envision the purpose of the Wikiversity Mandarin courses to be like Cliff Notes on steroids. It should be a place to consolidate information from various sources, provide links to the sources, and crystallize it into information that will be easily remembered during real-life conversations or during a test. Having quality "homework", "pop quizzes", end of lesson quizzes, multiple lesson tests, and a final exam would really add to the learning experience, and provide instant feedback on what needs to be reviewed before proceeding with the next section. I need to learn more about how to implement this part of the coursework because this is what distinguishes an online independent study course from simply being an online textbook. Also I would like some kids courses or texts to be created for ages 2-15 for those parents who have Chinese children, but know squat about Mandarin. It would be nice to have some Flash type of animation for the kids classes. Is there an open-source version that will work on a wikimedia page? My first goal will be to help myself learn Mandarin by starting to develop the basic courses when I get the time to do so. After all they say that the absolute best way to learn a subject is to teach it.Pmhollow 19:39, 17 April 2007 (UTC)

http://beta.wikiversity.org/wiki/Faculdade_Atenas_de_Paracatu
Cormaggio, This looks like a College Advertisement. How do we usually deal with it? The issue is, of course, that it may not be objective, and even if it contains useful information, I am not sure how to verify it..--Hillgentleman|Talk 02:06, 19 April 2007 (UTC)
 * My thoughts are in WV:C---Hillgentleman|Talk 01:24, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

follow up of general talk & learning to learn the wiki way
Hi Cormac

As mentioned at the wikiversity page we will run this year a summer university at the flosscom project on “learning the open source way” to learn more about “floss-like” learning and how to transfer this to (formal) educational settings. This will also be linked to the OU’s OpenLearn/Labspace initiative and hopefully receive some Unesco coverage. So do you assume it would be interesting for wikiversity to join in with its pendant course “Learning to learn the wiki way”? At least like that we could concentrate public attention trying to attract volunteers from the wiki, the floss and education scene to brainstorm with us!

--andreas 08:40, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

Moving string theory
That seems quite fair and reasoned, and I appreciate the candor. I will move it back to the original name with the original flavor kept but without the number asap if it remains. --Remi 18:18, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

oompapa
Please take a look at the discussion of oompapa on Wikipedia. --JWSchmidt 01:36, 20 April 2007 (UTC)

Mentor for custodianship
Many thanks for offering to be my mentor. I gratefully accept! McCormack 11:48, 20 April 2007 (UTC)


 * I've added myself to the staff list as requested. I spent some time admiring the picture, searching for zen-like enlightenment. My next resolution is to pretend nothing happened and finish the quiz help. :) McCormack 18:30, 24 April 2007 (UTC)

Thanks
Hey Cormac! You know, reading your note made my day - thanks so much. I'd like to help out for sure. When do you think is a good time to put my name in? --HappyCamper 21:36, 20 April 2007 (UTC)


 * I just got the buttons today! I'm really glad to be of service to Wikiversity. Thanks for your confidence in me. --HappyCamper 02:45, 29 April 2007 (UTC)

User:Jon/Qu'mey
Sorry, that page name was my mistake - I copied it from another wiki. I've moved it to User:Jonathan Webley/Qu'mey, but it's left a redirect behind. Feel free to delete the redirect. Thanks. maw&#39;wI&#39; 19:04, 22 April 2007 (UTC)

Cooking basics
Sure, no problem. I could probably talk my teacher into lending me the camera, and we could schedule some time to film some basic things for Cooking. We'll probably add knife cuts and some other things in, too, for the Culinary Arts program. :) Blast 26.04.07 0128 (UTC)

Promoting/Marketing Wikiversity
According to my recollection, there were some pages created on how to promote Wikiversity; do you know where can those be found, or where are they linked from? Thanks. --Remi 21:33, 28 April 2007 (UTC)