Hi All, Great technical innovation.
IMHO, what would also help new users, is a better welcome message from WikiAdmin, or WikiEd Admin (vs. Erik Moeller), in a way that is recognizable -- and most typically doesn't route to the trash. When I've trained users, it's quite amazing how many don't get or don't see the registration confirmation message -- because it comes from an unfamiliar source, NOT from WikiEd directly. I understand from Wayne, that this will be fixed when our servers are firmly at Athabasca, but I just want to underline it as a High Priorty too. - Randy On Sun, Sep 27, 2009 at 6:59 AM, kiwizian <[email protected]> wrote: > > Well done, Wayne. > > Of course it is a very important and valuable step forward for WE. > In my opinion Wiki Syntax or a WYSIWYG are only the technical > terminologies. > The ultimate goal needs to be "user friendly" which is a never ending > process. Is is just a simple strategy. > > Keep it up. WE is on the right track with this development and > dedicated mission. > > Regards > > Tj > > that we should be bold and move forward with the suggestion. > > On Sep 27, 12:27 pm, Wayne Mackintosh <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > > > For sometime our Community has requested that we implement a WYSIWYG > editor > > in WikiEducator. Many teachers and educators say that wiki text is a > > barrier to participation. WikiEducator is keen to respond to these > requests. > > > > To date, we've been holding back on implementing rich text editing for > two > > reasons: > > > > - Maturity of the WYSIWYG technology (Most notably issues with > templates > > and large content pages) > > - A reliable funding source to implement the refinements that will be > > necessary for an educational wiki > > > > The MediaWiki+FCKeditor project has matured considerably over the last 2 > > years and we believe that it is now feasible to install WYSIWYG editing > for > > WikiEducator. Also, with funding support from the New Zealand Ministry of > > Education we are now in a position to start work on the implementation of > > refinements that will be required for educators (for example, pull down > > menus for our pedagogical templates incorporating text boxes for the > > different parameters for these templates). > > > > We need to cater for two kinds of users: 1) Those (like myself ;-) ) who > > prefer wiki syntax to rich text editing and (2) those users who would > prefer > > using a WYSIWYG environment. Fortunately -- the FCKeditor enables users > to > > make the choice. Even within the FCKeditor -- there is an option to edit > > using wiki text. > > > > NOTE: Experienced WikiEducators can continue to edit in the usual way -- > > They will NOT be required to switch over to Rich Text Editing. > > > > I propose that we use a phased approach: > > > > - *Phase 1*: Install the FCKeditor WYSIWYG editor as an optional user > > preference. The editor works well for the majority of editing > functions, > > however the implementation for templates is not ideal and could be > confusing > > for newbies. That said, newbies do not typically start using templates > until > > they are more experienced and experienced editor will know how to use > > templates should they choose to use the RTE option. Therefore, I think > the > > advantages outweigh the disadvantages in holding back on the > implementation > > until we get a better user interface for editing templates. There will > be a > > few pages in WikiEducator where the rich text editor will not work > > effectively -- for example pages which are largely rendered through > > templates. On these pages we will turn-off RTE editing. These pages > are > > maintained by experienced editors -- so there shouldn't be any issues > in > > maintaining these pages. During Phase 1, there is a possibility that > we will > > not have WYSIWYG capability for talk pages or the template namespace. > > - *Phase 2*: Continue with development work regarding the refinements > we > > need for an educational wiki. These enhancements will be released once > > tested and reliable at a later stage during the project. > > > > WikiEducators can test how WYSIWYG editing works using the > > MediaWiki+FCKeditor project. Create an account and test the editor using > > the sandbox on this wiki: > > > > http://mediawiki.fckeditor.net/Sandbox > > > > Please try this out and let us know what you think. Thoughts and > suggestions > > are welcome! > > > > I think that this is an important and valuable step for WikiEducator and > > that we should be bold and move forward with the suggestion. > > > > Cheers > > Wayne > > > > -- > > Wayne Mackintosh, Ph.D. > > Director, > > International Centre for Open Education, > > Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand. > > Board of Directors, OER Foundation. > > Founder and Community Council Member, Wikieducator,www.wikieducator.org > > Mobile +64 21 2436 380 > > Skype: WGMNZ1 > > Twitter: OERFoundation, Mackiwg > > > -- Open Education is a sustainable and renewable resource. ________________ Randy Fisher, MA Senior Consultant & Facilitator, Intersol Group, Canada Senior Consultant, Organization & Business Development International Centre for Open Education / OER Foundation, New Zealand Elected Member, WikiEducator Community Council, www.wikieducator.org +1 613.230.6424 x144 (EST) Skype: wikirandy Twitter: wikirandy * Stakeholder Engagement, Change / Transition Management & Performance * Organization Design & Development * Sustainable Project Implementation & Community-Building * E-Learning, Online Collaboration & Communities of Practice * Coaching & Facilitation * My Bio: http://www.communitybuildingexpert.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "WikiEducator" group. 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