====== How to Post Articles ====== \\ We have prepared a step-by-step tutorial on how to post articles on the Learning to Finish wiki. Use the Table of Contents at the right to skip ahead to sections that will be of greatest assistance. \\ \\ ---- ==== How are wiki articles organized? ==== \\ The articles on the Learning to Finish wiki are organized in three categories: **[[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=programs_and_initiatives|Programs & Initiatives]]** – under this heading our users have placed information on programs and initiatives designed to combat the dropout epidemic\\ **[[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=research|Research]]** – in this section users have placed information on research and publications that discuss different aspects of the dropout problem\\ **[[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=news_and_resources|News and Resources]]** – links to resources from organizations committed to dropout prevention **[[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=act_now|Act Now!]]** - community members seeking to have an immediate impact can use this section for ideas on how to get started immediately \\ \\ ---- ==== Where do I begin? ==== \\ As Maria tells the children in the Sound of Music, "Let's start at the very beginning, It's a very good place to start."\\ After choosing the section where your information fits best, you will need to [[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=home&do=register|register for an account]]. Note that clicking the link to the registration page opens a new browser window. Don't let this confuse you, just register for an account and close any browser windows you like. Upon completing registration you will receive an e-mail with a link that directs you back to the wiki.\\ Note that we use registration as a way to control vandalism on the wiki and are not interested in using it to contact you or share your e-mail address with others. \\ \\ ---- ==== To consider before posting ==== \\ Before adding an article consider the following: * There may be an existing article that deals with your topic. Please search the wiki for material related to your topic before posting. This greatly reduces the chances that later users will edit your post in a way that significantly alters your content.\\ * Articles are listed in a pyramid-like order of importance with the top of the pyramid being the basic categories (Programs & Initiatives, Research, News & Resources), the next level are the topics and summaries listed on those pages, and the bottom of the pyramid are the articles that discuss those topics. When you post a new article, anticipate that you will have to fill-out everything under the tip of the pyramid.\\ \\ \\ ---- ==== Our Example: Edit This Page ==== \\ Take this example. A new user works for a program that tries to reduce truancy and wants to post an article about their initiative and what they think works best. They look through the basic entry types for the wiki and decide (correctly) that [[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=programs_and_initiatives|“Programs & Initiatives”]] is the best place to start. They also notice that the [[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=programs_and_initiatives|“Programs & Initiatives”]] page has only summaries of programs and initiatives with a link to more information below the summary. After navigating to the [[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=programs_and_initiatives|“Programs & Initiatives”]] page they click on the button (in the left-hand corner) that reads “Edit this page”. A new webpage appears with a screen, there is a scroll bar to the right of the screen and a series of gray buttons above it. This is the editing screen and this is where you will start creating your entry. \\ \\ ---- ==== Our Example: Using wiki language ==== \\ The user notices that there is text with equal signs ( = ), slashes (\), dotted lines (-), and brackets ([ ]). All these symbols are used to format the text. We ask that new users try and maintain the existing format until they are more comfortable with using the wiki language (or syntax.) Here is a basic introduction to these symbols: an equal sign ( = ) indicates the size of the text, more equal signs on either size of a text sample make it larger; slashes (\) indicate spaces, it’s just like hitting “Return” or “Enter” on a keyboard when typing; dotted lines (-) indicate you would like a line to appear, they are used to separate text – once two sets of text are separated by four dotted lines (----) a Table of Contents will be created and populated with the first line from the set of text; brackets are used for identifying links to other pages. A full explanation of wiki syntax, with easy-to-imitate examples, is located [[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=wiki:syntax|on this wiki]] or in [[http://wiki.splitbrain.org/wiki%3Amanual|the wiki manual]]. \\ ---- ==== Our Example: Following our wiki's format ==== \\ Back to the case of our fictional user. They notice that the page follows a particular format. For instance, the [[ability_grouping_vs._cooperative_learning|summary of Ability Grouping]] follows this format: Four dotted lines Descriptive headline (Ability Grouping vs. Cooperative Learning) Space Summary of the issue Link to further reading The user follows the existing format to create a [[absenteeism|summary about Absenteeism]].\\ ---- ==== Our Example: Alphabetical Order ==== \\ Note that when entering the text the user located “Absenteeism” between “Ability Learning” and “Alternative Education”. Alphabetical order is somewhat important as each page that follows the format noted above creates a Table of Contents that appears on the right hand side of the page. This Table of Contents allows for easy browsing of all articles on the page. \\ \\ ---- ==== Our Example: Preview your work ==== \\ Before doing anything else take a look at your options. There is a button for “Preview” that allows you to see your changes to the page before they are implemented. There is another button for “Save” that allows you to implement your changes immediately without showing you an example of your work. We strongly recommend that you preview your work first, survey your changes, then click the “Save” button to implement them. Note that when you click on “Preview” your work will be displayed beneath the editing screen. Oftentimes this means you will have to scroll down the page to see your changes. Once you have reviewed your changes using the “Preview” function make sure to hit the “Save” button under the editing screen. If you do not hit “Save” then your work will be lost. \\ \\ ---- ==== Our Example: Creating a new page ==== \\ When the fictional user saved their summary on the [[http://www.learningtofinish.org/doku.php?id=programs_and_initiatives|“Programs & Initiatives” page]] they included a link to a new page on the wiki called “Absenteeism”. How? Text between double brackets designates a link; the text before the vertical line ( | ) in the center of the brackets is the name of the new page, the text after the vertical line ( | ) is what the user will click on to reach the new page. The stars (*) on either side of the double brackets indicate that the text will be bold. \\ Now that our fictional user has saved their summary with a link to a new page they click on the link to the new page and are greeted with this message:\\ This topic does not exist yet\\ You’ve followed a link to a topic that doesn’t exist yet. You can create it by using the Create this page button.\\ The fictional user clicks on the “Create this page” button and is greeted with a blank editing screen. This is their new page and, just like the summary on the “Case Studies” page, it requires text and formatting. Here is a very simple format (and some hints) for placing new text on a page:\\ Title of Article\\ Space\\ Text of article\\ Don’t forget to add links to other wiki pages\\ Don't forget to add links to websites with related research\\ We **strongly suggest** that new users take a look at the language used to create existing wiki pages by hitting the "Edit this page" button. \\ \\ ---- ==== Practice on the playground ==== \\ If you are new to wiki, you should start by [[wiki:playground|experimenting in the "playground"]]. Any changes you make in the playground are temporary and will not affect any other wiki articles. \\ \\ ---- ==== Other resources ==== \\ A group called Common Craft has [[http://www.commoncraft.com/video-wikis-plain-english|created a video which demonstrates the wiki concept]]. If you have 3 minutes and 52 seconds then you have enough time to watch and learn what a wiki is and how it can be useful. \\