wikimania preso final_ppt

wikiHow PresentationWikimanía 28-8-2009

 jack@wikihow.com

Free Culture ≈ Free Software ≈ Occasionally Free Beer    

Free Culture ≈ Free Software ≈ Occasionally Free Beer ≠  Free Laptop Computer  

What is wikiHow?

wikiHow is collaboration to build the world's largest, highest quality, how-to manual

16 million unique visitors - ranked 102nd most popular site by Quantcast

7 languages

Why do people contribute to wikiHow?

I think it is fun/entertaining (77%)

I find it personally rewarding (75%)

I love to give back (66%)

I enjoy collaborating with others (60%)

Simplified reasons for contributing

Fun1 1

Greater Meaning

Collaboration

2 2

3 3

Making editing easier means more edits

Advanced editor Guided editor

Edit abandonment is the failure to have fun

Being reverted is not fun

Monthly ratio of reverted edits by editor class

Source: Suh, Bongwon; Convertino, Gregorio; Chi, Ed H.; & Pirolli, Peter (2009). The Singularity is not near: Slowing growth of Wikipedia.

{suh, convertino, echi, pirolli}@parc.com

Simplified reasons for contributing

Fun1 1

Greater Meaning

Collaboration

2 2

3 3

Noble missions provide greater meaning

Wikipedia: An encyclopedia for every person on the planet in their own language.

wikiHow: Practical instructions to help people solve the problems of everyday life.

Extending greater meaning: Books to Africa experiment

Every time someone writes a new article on wikiHow, we will ship a physical text book to a child in Africa

Greater meaning detractor: AdvertisingPartial solution: Opt out ads 

Greater meaning detractor: AdvertisingPartial solution: Opt out ads 

Going carbon neutral: A cautionary tale

wikiHow went carbon neutral a few years ago;  temporarily was the most popular carbon neutral website

Going carbon neutral added meaning for many in community

But detracted meaning for others....

Simplified reasons for contributing

Fun1 1

Greater Meaning

Collaboration

2 2

3 3

Offering classes

Compassionate Communication (aka Non-Violent Communication)Goal to encourage civil, enjoyable collaboration

Taught by live instructors on phone and online

Free to wikiHow editors

$250 to non-editors

Writing SkillsOffered free classes on general writing skills taught by live instructors from Gotham Writers Workshop

New article boost (NAB)Via NAB: Patrol and edit new articles, support contributors

Female editors

* measured % of female admins

Simplified reasons for contributing

Fun1 1

Greater Meaning

Collaboration

2 2

3 3

Keep in touch

• wikiHow User:JackHerrick • email: jack@wikihow.com • Identi.ca : @Jack • Twitter: @JackHerrick