LEVEL 1
- Dialogue 1
Welcome to Wikipedia! Wikipedia is a volunteer created encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Really!
This interactive tutorial is designed to let you learn the interface and the basics of successful editing in an easy, fun, realistic way. I'd love to show you around the site. Let's get started!
- Dialogue 2
The first step to taking advantage of all Wikipedia has to offer is registering an account. Here we go!
- Dialogue 3
Registering an account is free and easy. You don't need to be an expert, and you don't need to register your email address. If you have an account, you get to use editor tools. Having an account also keeps your internet address (known as an "IP address") hidden, so that your privacy is more protected. Now, let's pick a username for your account.
- Dialogue 4
A good username should be friendly and personal. It doesn't have to be your real name (but it can be, if you want to allow everyone in the world to know your name). Any name is okay if it's appropriate for the entire community to see, and if no one else has already registered that name. However, you shouldn't choose a name affiliated with a company or product you might be working on.
- Interface 1 - Mock registration
- Input a username and choose a password. A good password has some uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Don't use a common word, and don't use something that is related to you in real life like your telephone number. Passwords that are longer and more complex are more secure, as long as you can remember them.
- Dialogue 5
Congratulations! Your account is set up and ready. Now let's introduce yourself to the community. Let's go to your personal userpage by clicking on your username at the top of the page.
- Action 1 - Highlight Username
Click here to access your userpage.
- Action 2 - Load userpage after click.
- Dialogue 6
Hmm... it says the page hasn't been created yet. Creating a page on Wikipedia is as simple as editing it and clicking Save. Your userpage is a place for you to tell other editors about yourself. You can share as much as you like about your personal background or just leave a few words about what you'd like to contribute to the project. It's up to you. Just remember that everyone on the internet can view your userpage, so be careful with private details and contact information. How do you want to introduce yourself to the Wikipedia community?
- Action 3 - Highlight 'Start the user{username} page'
Click on start to create the page
- Dialogue 7
To edit Wikipedia you just type in the text box. When you're done, click Show Preview to see how it will look. Then click Save to add the edit.
- Interface 2
My username is _____. I'm from _____. My interests are ______, ______, _____, and ____. Stop by and drop me a message on my talk page!
- Dialogue 8 - Show Preview
When you're ready to see how it looks, click [Show Preview]
- Action 4 - Highlight [Show Preview]
Click on Show Preview to see how your page will appear
- Action 5 - Edit Summary
Don't forget to add an edit summary. An edit summary is just a brief note about what changes you made. Other editors can see at a glance what you did. Click here to add one. Adds ["Creating my userpage, a little about me"]
- Dialogue 9
The last thing to do is is Save the page. Saving means it's live and anyone can see the changes. Are you ready?
- Action 6 - Save
Click Save to add your changes.
- Action 7 - Load saved userpage
- Dialogue 10
Nice work. Now people can get to know you a little better. You're an editor! You're off to a great start! You see, almost every page on Wikipedia can be edited by you. Did I mention, Great Work!
- Action 8 - Highlight editing toolbar
Let's go back and make a few changes to the text. How about adding bold to your name? Click [edit] at the top of the page to go to the edit page.
- Action 9 - Highlight Edit
Click edit to make changes
- Dialogue 11
Wikipedia is written in a language called Markup which makes it easy to add formatting. It looks a little funny at first, but you'll get the hang of it in no time.
- Dialogue 12
The editing toolbar makes adding formatting and making changes to text as easy as pressing a button. You might even learn to memorize some of the symbols which make changes. Neat trick. How about at the bottom?
- Action 10 - Highlight name
Click and drag the mouse to highlight your name
- Action 11 - Highlight Bold on editing toolbar
Click B to add the markup code for bold
- Action 12 - Add around username in text box
- Dialogue 13
Do you see the three (') on each side of your name? When you click "Save," your name will show up in Bold. Also, don't forget to add an edit summary saying, "added bold."
- Action 13 - Edit summary, Show Preview, and Save
- Dialogue 14
Looks good. Let's do one more. Let's put your interests in italics. Click Edit again.
- Dialogue 15
Italics is the i on the toolbar. It works just like Bold did.
- Action 14 - Highlight Italics on editing toolbar
Select your interests and click i to add the code for italics
- Action 15 - Add around interests
- Dialogue 16
Now add an edit summary saying, "added italics", Show Preview, and Save
- Action 16- Edit summary, Show Preview, and Save
- Dialogue 17.
Um...you're awesome. And you're done the first mission!
- Action 17 - Progress menu advance
- You've completed 1 mission out of 12
- Dialogue 18
You progress has been saved! Do you want to try the next mission or continue later?
- Action 18 - Try the next lesson or continue later?