Rethinking definition of WikiEducator
The following definition is included in the definitions section:
- WikiEducator refers to any registered user of the WikiEducator websites.
I like the simplicity of this, but I'm now wondering if in practice, it could be confusing. The result is two definitions for WikiEducator: 1) the website (and by implication the community) and 2) the registered users. I think this duality of meaning could result in confusion in some situations. Maybe we shouldn't encourage the use of WikiEducator to refer to a user. I suggest the following revision:
- WikiEducator member refers to any registered user of the WikiEducator websites.
thereby distinguishing a member from someone who is just viewing pages.
Hi Alison,
I see the point. For policy documents I think its important to be clear and avoid potential ambiguity. I think WikiEducator member addresses the problem.
On a lighter vein -- in general usage of the term the confusion between the site and user is quite appropriate -- the user and technology conflate and become one. Perhaps over time we will adopt a de facto convention eg WikiEducator to refer to the site and Wikieducator (small "e") to refer to registered users in general posts.
However -- in the policy I think we need to be clear and you have my vote for WikiEducator member.
Cheers
I like the way that WikiEducator means website and community in one. Great idea to refer to members with small 'e' -- Wikieducators! I will definitely use this in informal settings. Let's see if it takes hold.
And in the meantime, we'll use WikiEducator member in the policy documents to ensure clarity. I'll make the changes (and change back my initial edits on this topic in the style guidelines policy).
A third class could be "wiki-educator" (hyphen) when referring to people who also use Wikiversity and other wiki-based platforms.
Kim,
Great thought and what a coincidence that you post this today. I an entry for WikiEducator in the WikiEducator glossary last night and remembered that this post had some interesting nuance that we could put in the definition, but wasn't sure where to start looking for it.
And then today it shows up in my "There are new messages for you" page, with another good thought to add to the definition.
Thanks, Alison
