Help:FAQ/En

From Wikiversity

What is Wikiversity?

Wikiversity is a new Wikimedia project^[1] exploring ways to use the power of wiki to support online learning. This new project will be in beta phase during the first six months^[2].

What is Wikiversity Beta?

Wikiversity Beta is a global platform aiming at coordinating Wikiversity projects in several languages. This multilingual coordination intends to deal with Wikiversity's mission and general guidelines of the project's scope (for example, about original research). Wikiversity Beta is also a place where Wikiversity projects which don't have a subdomain yet can develop.

In a nutshell, Wikiversity Beta is both a meta-wiki and an incubator for Wikiversity projects.

How is it possible to have so many languages coexisting on Beta without it becoming a mess?

Wikiversity Beta intends to take advantage of the input of its many participants (not only English-speakers). Multilingual discussions should not only coexist, but live in symbiosis. A multilingual discussion system has been proposed to manage them so non-English speakers can take part in discussions. Moreover, Beta is using the Language select feature developped on Meta, which allows users to hide foreign languages on multilingual pages.

What about separate Wikiversity projects which already have their own subdomain?

Those separate projects are growing their way. However, their participants are strongly encouraged to take part into discussions about general guidelines that will apply to all Wikiversity projects. Moreover, they are encouraged to post reports about their projects to let everybody know about how it grows.

What's next?

Now we need people to take part in the discussions on Wikiversity Beta. People from existing separate projects and people willing to contribute to a future separate project should join the discussions and work together. People who do not speak English are encouraged to take part in discussions but we also need volunteer translators to translate the talk summaries.

Your multilingual system will never work. It requires too many translators.

If people really sum up their discussions, not only this will help them to focus on important things but it will not take much time to translate them. Ten days after Beta opening, its main page is already available in five languages.

By the way, it is just a proposal. Hey, if everybody speaks english, very well, we won't have anything to translate. If the system does not work, at least we can say we tried.

For a coordination project, it would be much more practical if a single language of discussion is chosen.

Of course it would be more practical; the question is: should we manage Beta the way that is easier for us English speakers or should we manage it the way everybody can take part in discussions about guidelines that will apply to all projects?

Wikiversity Beta Motto?

The shorter, the better. If you want your ideas to reach people speaking other languages, write short and understandable summaries.

What does Wikiversity Beta offer over Meta?

Wikiversity Beta formulate new (within Wikimedia Foundation projects) research policies for wikiversity.

Wikiversity Beta attempts to be a multi-lingual discussion platform.

Why do we need a Wikiversity Beta instead of using the Wikimedia Incubator?

What about Wikiversity projects that are currently on Wikibooks, including non-English versions of Wikiversity?

What is the sense behind splitting Wikiversity up into various separated language Wikies? Would it not be better to create courses and research reports in a multilingual environment such as Beta and have them translated in as many langages as translators see fit when new pages and documents become available?

[edit] Notes and references

1. ↑ Board resolution: wikimedia:Resolution Wikiversity
2. ↑ Anthere's mail about Wikiversity: http://mail.wikimedia.org/pipermail/foundation-l/2006-August/009074.html