Help:Editing rules

Here is a simple set of rules that you should use:

New articles

1. Before starting a new article: search the wiki to check if there is already an article
2. If a content exists under an other name:
   • use redirection IFF you feel that your concept should have its own entry
   • else use complex links like [[link | your label]]
   • See also "disambiguation pages" below, i.e. a content can be split up over several articles
3. New article titles:
   • Never use capital letters except for the very first one (the only exception are proper names). Good: Educational theory - Bad: Educational Theory
   • Use singular (e.g. theory, not theories)
   • Don't use articles (bad: "the xy theory ...", good: "xy theory")
   • If the term is very ambigous, split it up and use a "disambig" template (see below).

Templates for page status

• Templates refer to code inserted between {{...}}, i.e. they will add contents to a page, insert it into a category and maybe modify it's look.
• We are not yet sure which templates to use here, e.g. the Wikipedai has lots, but we certainly can do with less. See the Category:Templates for a list of templates in use. Here are the most important ones:

1. Disambiguation pages (Template:disambig):
   • These are small pages that will split an ambiguous term into more specific temrs (specific articles). Example: Activity
   • Insert the disambiguation template {{disambig}} at the end of the article (will insert a message and disambiguation category.
2. Under construction (Template:Under construction):
   • Use the {{under construction}} template if you plan to finish a first acceptable version of your article fairly soon
3. Planned contents, i.e. stubs (Template:Stub)
   • Use the {{stub}} template if you just want to create an article, but without really working on it.
4. Incomplete articles (Template:Incomplete)
   • Use the {{Incomplete}} template to signal that an article is ok as a resource, but that it should be further improved in various ways (e.g. by adding new sections, reorganizing contents, etc.)

Structure and categories

1. Structure of articles:
   • Use titles, e.g. == Level 1 == , === Level 2 ===, etc.
2. Categories:
   • Insert at least one category at the end of each article !, e.g. [[Category:educational technologies]]
   • You may suggest new categories if needed ! Use plural, not singular. (Categories are auto-creating, we will decide together if we keep yours ...).
   • See the start page for a list of major categories, or look at the full list
3. Links: use complex links when need, do not use: "(see here)".
   • Bad "this is a frequent statement in behaviorist theory" (see [Behaviorism)."
   • Good: "this is a frequent statement in behaviorist theory".
4. One article = one topic, i.e. create new pages for topics that are relevant to other articles.
   • Note: There is a system to compose articles from several pages if needed.

Images

1. Images:
   • To insert an image use [[Image:xxx.png]]
   • Please add a description for images that you upload
   • Indicate the source ! and date insertion time
   • Note: Five ~~~~~ will do the trick

Authorship and quotations

1. Always quote the source, never copy/paste from the web without indication of the source and if possible date of retrieval
   • Do note copy whole pages, even if you cite them. Use some "liberal idea" of fair practise.
2. Use quotation templates if you want
   • {{quotationbox | bla bla }} for longer quotes, see Template:quotationbox
   • {{quotation | bla bla}} for short quotations, see Template:quotation
3. Your opinions:
   • If they may be controversial, sign a statement with your Wiki user ID

1. Useful shortcuts:
   • Three ~~~ insert your user ID
   • E.g. DSchneider thinks that these editing rules are just fine
   • Four ~~~~ insert your user ID + Time/Date
   • E.g. These rules need some improvement (11:21, 11 April 2006 (MEST) - DSchneider)
   • Five ~~~~~ insert the current date.
   • At the time of writing it was 17:04, 18 May 2006 (MEST).