Wikipedia:Training/For educators/Creating accounts
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Wikipedia Training
Editing
Getting started: Creating an account
Have students create their user accounts prior to the lab. Each individual must have their own account; shared accounts are not allowed on Wikipedia.
- This allows them to read Wikipedia's username policy, explore issues of privacy, confidentiality, and discretion, and consider how anonymous they want to be on the site. Students should think carefully before editing under their real names; editing pseudonymously is perfectly fine.
- It also avoids triggering the automatic limits placed on creating numerous accounts from the same location in a short time period.
- Adding an email address to your account (for both instructors and students) is strongly recommended; this allows you to send and receive emails with other editors. (Your email address is not revealed when other users contact you.) You can also receive email notifications whenever pages you are interested in get changed, if you wish. And if you forget your Wikipedia password, you can have it emailed to you — but only if you add your email address to your account!
If you are working with a Wikipedia volunteer or trained staff member, he or she can help you with this lab session.