me: "I have put forward the idea of a prefilled article template for new articles, instead of an empty edit box - show newbies what we expect from an article. Thoughts?"
Malkin: "Actually, I think that's a great idea. It took a lot of work to figure out what needed to be there - jumping around to figure out how to add categories and sources, and that's with a fair amount of familiarity with what it should look like in the first place. A template would've been much easier to start from than an empty box."
Look at User:Malkin's edits and you'll see how she slowly constructed the article. Prefill would have been just the thing to lead this newbie the right way. She did OK anyway, but it would have helped greatly and made the blank edit box a lot less intimidating.
- d.
I'm not a huge fan of prefilled templates, but this is a great use for them.
So... for users who aren't logged in, provide such a template, perhaps with extra introductory comments -- everyone else gets a user preference (off by default) that they can toggle to get the same (with fewer introductory comments)?
SJ
On 12/19/05, David Gerard dgerard@gmail.com wrote:
me: "I have put forward the idea of a prefilled article template for new articles, instead of an empty edit box - show newbies what we expect from an article. Thoughts?"
Malkin: "Actually, I think that's a great idea. It took a lot of work to figure out what needed to be there - jumping around to figure out how to add categories and sources, and that's with a fair amount of familiarity with what it should look like in the first place. A template would've been much easier to start from than an empty box."
Look at User:Malkin's edits and you'll see how she slowly constructed the article. Prefill would have been just the thing to lead this newbie the right way. She did OK anyway, but it would have helped greatly and made the blank edit box a lot less intimidating.
- d.
SJ wrote:
I'm not a huge fan of prefilled templates, but this is a great use for them. So... for users who aren't logged in, provide such a template, perhaps with extra introductory comments -- everyone else gets a user preference (off by default) that they can toggle to get the same (with fewer introductory comments)?
Same template, *on* by default. This is for newbies. Note this was a logged-in editor.
- d.
On 12/20/05, David Gerard fun@thingy.apana.org.au wrote:
Same template, *on* by default. This is for newbies. Note this was a logged-in editor.
Since only logged in editors can currently create articles anyway ...
-Matt
Hi, I agree with the need to make editing easier and to provide more direction to newbies. Whatever template is used, it should guide them through the notions that the article should be in at least one category, should probably have a stub template, and may belong to one or more wikiprojects. Not in a way that would intimidate a user who just wants to contribute "something", but in a way to help someone who has an hour or two to devote to their subject.
Steve
-----Original Message----- From: wikien-l-bounces@Wikipedia.org [mailto:wikien-l-bounces@Wikipedia.org] On Behalf Of SJ Sent: Tuesday, 20th December 2005 6:28 AM To: English Wikipedia Subject: Re: [WikiEN-l] A newbie on article prefill templating
I'm not a huge fan of prefilled templates, but this is a great use for them.
So... for users who aren't logged in, provide such a template, perhaps with extra introductory comments -- everyone else gets a user preference (off by default) that they can toggle to get the same (with fewer introductory comments)?