We're getting ready to make some screencasts, documenting MediaWiki features, processes on Wikipedia, etc. Let's gather a few ideas here -- topics that might help new project contributors get started. Please include as much or as little detail as you like, this is a brainstorming place!
To create a simple script table, add ((subst:Template:Screencast script table)) to a page, and click save.
Have a go at producing these yourself, or find some other people to collaborate with. Start a script, or add to the brainstorm below!
- Introduction to the projects: show somebody around Commons, Wikisource, etc. What's the purpose of the project? What's an example of a high-quality article/page? What do its contributors enjoy about it, what sort of audience are they looking to serve, and how? To tell that there are more than 270 + language Wikipedias.
- Cover outreach:Life of an Article in video format.
- Also Wikipedia:Annotated article perhaps.
- How to add a reference into a Wikipedia article.
- 1 video for a couple of Simple methods (Use & Embed at WP:Referencing for beginners and WP:Tutorial (Citing sources)).
- 1 for Simple to Advanced methods.
- How to turn on the RefToolbar gadget and use it.
- Maybe a companion piece about finding quality citations, and using tools like Web Cite, Google Books, Google News search/archives, NewsBank and JStor (maybe via your library, or here via WP:REX), etc. etc.
- Many libraries have developed similar tutorials that could be adapted for things like this; see [1]
- How articles get on the Main Page.
- Who writes them, what the process is, how they are reviewed, what they are checked for, issues about expertise and the (usually) amateurs who write them. And especially: they don't get there unless they are written, copy edited, and reviewed.
- Basic how-to-edit a section tutorial
- Very quickly, like a 30 second tutorial, that could be played in settings where you don't have time to get into the details -- like conference booths, talks, etc.
- I really like this idea, not only because these clips would be useful per se but because they could be reused in other contexts. The economy of reuse is not to be underestimated in the Wikimedian context of CC-BY-SA!
- What's the process for deleting an article on (for instance) English Wikipedia?
- Briefly cover principles like notability, verifiability, neutral point of view; cover proposed deletion, speedy deletion, "articles for deletion" processes; conflicts of interest. Focus on being informative about how it works, rather than advocating "inclusionism" or "deletionism."
- How to request deletion/non-deletion/undeletion for an article
- How to upload an image
- (It may be prudent to delay this one until the new upload system is essentially ready, lest it quickly become obsolete)
- Licensing tutorial? (to cover at least GFDL, CC, and PD?)
- How to place an image in an article
- How to start a new article
- Using the special characters bar/adding formatting
- "What is this 'notability' of which you speak?"
- Finding a wikiproject on a topic you're interested in / finding stuff to do
- How to use a watchlist.
- Scripts
- Status: Done /Script 0: Planning, Production, Upload - Peregrine - File:Screencast demo of Camstudio and Firefogg.ogv
- Introduction
- Status: Done /Script 1: What is a screencast? What are the ideals of the project? - iFaqeer - File:WikiProject Screencast Script 1.ogv
- Planning a screencast
- Status: In progress /Script 2: Establishing a purpose / audience, Writing a script - iFaqeer, John Broughton, Nihiltres -
- Status: Done /Script 3: Assembling material - Orange Mike, iFaqeer - File:WP-Screencast-KO-Script3.ogv (On YouTube)
- Tools needed (tied to page about different platforms)
- Status: Done /Script 4: Possible hardware and software - Robert, AB - File:Hardware and software for sceencasting.ogv
- Pre-production
- Status: Done /Script 5: Physical environment, simplifying - Quiddity, Ryan - File:WikiProject Screencast Script 5.ogv
- Production
- Status: Done /Script 6: Overview - HJ Mitchell, Peregrine - File:CamsStudio demo.ogv
- Post-production
- Status: In progress /Script 8: Encoding and testing - Aude - need to re-record audio, then post. -
- Status: Done /Script 9: Uploading and placement - Ryan - File:WikiProject Screencast Script 9.ogv
- Advanced
- Status: In progress /Script 10: Know-it-all uber expert super fancy fun time haz - iFaqeer -
- Collaboration
- Status: In progress /Script 11: Collaboration - Ryan -
- See thumbnails and further details at our Gallery page.