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 are working on an article and want other people to know about. Once you stop working on it you may revert the article to "incomplete" or "stub"
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).