Online communities are an important part of how we work, learn, and socialize. But how are they designed? What are they really good for? What do people do there? Why are some communities more successful than others? What are the key issues in this field of research?
This course will cover topics and issues of online communities from both a design perspective and a social-science perspective, demonstrating them through a variety of types of online communities.
In the first half of the semester, you will be working with two other students to compose or majorly edit a Wikipedia article. The purpose of this assignment is to learn and understand the backbone of how Wikipedia works, as an example of an active, vibrant, and successful online community.
This project will involve:
Creating a Wikipedia account and becoming familiar with the Wikipedia editors community
Proposing a missing article to compose or an underdeveloped article to expand
Researching the topic of the article and finding reliable resources for a high-quality article
Learning and adhering to the policies, standards, and norms of Wikipedia editing
Engaging in discussion with other Wikipedia editors about the contents and form of the article
Publishing and editing the article
Reflecting on the process of becoming part of the Wikipedia community
Your work in this project will be evaluated based on the quality and depth of the article you have edited or created, your interactions on talk pages and involvement with the Wikipedia community, demonstrating the evolution of your contribution through the history of the article, following Wikipedia’s writing standards in content and style, and your reflection on the Wikipedia assignment and community participation.