CZ Talk:Managing Editor/2010/004 - Simplification of application procedure: Difference between revisions
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imported>Sandy Harris mNo edit summary |
imported>Daniel Mietchen |
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== | == Initial thoughts == | ||
Daniel has invited me to chime in on this. | Daniel has invited me to chime in on this. | ||
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That seems like it might get us on the right track. –[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 17:14, 23 November 2010 (UTC) | That seems like it might get us on the right track. –[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 17:14, 23 November 2010 (UTC) | ||
We currently also require that the new user appear to have a good command of the english language. [[User:D. Matt Innis|D. Matt Innis]] 01:24, 11 April 2011 (UTC) | :We currently also require that the new user appear to have a good command of the english language. [[User:D. Matt Innis|D. Matt Innis]] 01:24, 11 April 2011 (UTC) | ||
:I notice in Tom's list above the suggestion that people be able to join to make a small change in something that they read. I agree this is probably the single biggest feature that might get us more applications, and more users that will stick around. [[User:D. Matt Innis|D. Matt Innis]] 01:30, 11 April 2011 (UTC) | ::I notice in Tom's list above the suggestion that people be able to join to make a small change in something that they read. I agree this is probably the single biggest feature that might get us more applications, and more users that will stick around. [[User:D. Matt Innis|D. Matt Innis]] 01:30, 11 April 2011 (UTC) | ||
I currently make my living editing technical papers written in English by Chinese. I could try the "copywriting" mentioned above. Where is the text? | :::I currently make my living editing technical papers written in English by Chinese. I could try the "copywriting" mentioned above. Where is the text? | ||
Can we make it some sort of multi-step process? | :::Can we make it some sort of multi-step process? | ||
# Signup is ''extremely'' simple. Give us your name and a email address. Welcome to Citizendium! | :::# Signup is ''extremely'' simple. Give us your name and a email address. Welcome to Citizendium! | ||
# New users get some suggestions including putting a biography on their user page and joining workgroups they are interested in. | :::# New users get some suggestions including putting a biography on their user page and joining workgroups they are interested in. | ||
# Becoming an editor is a separate process. I'd say no-one should be given that privilege until they have shown competence, and understanding of basic policies, on the wiki, but that's another issue. | :::# Becoming an editor is a separate process. I'd say no-one should be given that privilege until they have shown competence, and understanding of basic policies, on the wiki, but that's another issue. | ||
Provided some of us check recent changes, and in particular look at what new users are up to, and the Constables are moderately alert to intervene if a problem appears, I see no problem with making registration really easy. [[User:Sandy Harris|Sandy Harris]] 05:01, 11 April 2011 (UTC) | :::Provided some of us check recent changes, and in particular look at what new users are up to, and the Constables are moderately alert to intervene if a problem appears, I see no problem with making registration really easy. [[User:Sandy Harris|Sandy Harris]] 05:01, 11 April 2011 (UTC) | ||
::::@Matt, I added the command of English as a separate item (even though I think it has not been enforced lately). | |||
::::@all, I made it clear that the table is to be edited directly, so as to have all relevant comments in the right place. | |||
::::@Sandy, the text is distributed across several pages in the Mediawiki namespace (e.g. [[MediaWiki:Requestaccount-text]]; Matt has compiled most of it [[User:Daniel Mietchen/request account|here]] once, but that was two years ago), in which you and I cannot edit. So it is perhaps best to just copy the source code and to simplify it elsewhere (e.g. on [[CZ:Managing Editor/2010/004 - Simplification of application procedure/Working copy]]). | |||
::::For an example of a signup page that I consider close to what we need, see [http://species-id.net/wiki/Special:RequestAccount here]. | |||
::::--[[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel Mietchen]] 08:48, 11 April 2011 (UTC) |
Revision as of 03:48, 11 April 2011
Initial thoughts
Daniel has invited me to chime in on this.
I think the signup procedure currently is too convoluted and is probably putting off applicants.
With generalist wikis, a lot of people sign up just to correct a very minor mistake or as a one-off thing. They spot a comma out of place and just want to fix that. We ought to encourage this.
- We should get a copywriter to rewrite the text to make it shorter, more encouraging and so on. Change the language from "requirement", "you are required to do this" etc. to a less strict tone.
- We should use A/B testing to compare various versions of the signup page.
- We shouldn't ask people whether they are authors or editors at initial signup: once they are signed up, offer them the chance to upgrade their account to editor if they are qualified.
- Just have a spot for people to dump in URLs.
- We should do some "guerilla user testing" to see where in the form we can improve it.
That seems like it might get us on the right track. –Tom Morris 17:14, 23 November 2010 (UTC)
- We currently also require that the new user appear to have a good command of the english language. D. Matt Innis 01:24, 11 April 2011 (UTC)
- I notice in Tom's list above the suggestion that people be able to join to make a small change in something that they read. I agree this is probably the single biggest feature that might get us more applications, and more users that will stick around. D. Matt Innis 01:30, 11 April 2011 (UTC)
- I currently make my living editing technical papers written in English by Chinese. I could try the "copywriting" mentioned above. Where is the text?
- Can we make it some sort of multi-step process?
- Signup is extremely simple. Give us your name and a email address. Welcome to Citizendium!
- New users get some suggestions including putting a biography on their user page and joining workgroups they are interested in.
- Becoming an editor is a separate process. I'd say no-one should be given that privilege until they have shown competence, and understanding of basic policies, on the wiki, but that's another issue.
- Can we make it some sort of multi-step process?
- Provided some of us check recent changes, and in particular look at what new users are up to, and the Constables are moderately alert to intervene if a problem appears, I see no problem with making registration really easy. Sandy Harris 05:01, 11 April 2011 (UTC)
- @Matt, I added the command of English as a separate item (even though I think it has not been enforced lately).
- @all, I made it clear that the table is to be edited directly, so as to have all relevant comments in the right place.
- @Sandy, the text is distributed across several pages in the Mediawiki namespace (e.g. MediaWiki:Requestaccount-text; Matt has compiled most of it here once, but that was two years ago), in which you and I cannot edit. So it is perhaps best to just copy the source code and to simplify it elsewhere (e.g. on CZ:Managing Editor/2010/004 - Simplification of application procedure/Working copy).
- For an example of a signup page that I consider close to what we need, see here.
- --Daniel Mietchen 08:48, 11 April 2011 (UTC)