FamilySearch Wiki:WikiProject Feedback/What New Users and Contributors Want to Make Wiki Easier

Call for feedback!
Please leave your feedback regarding the ease of use and/or contributing to the wiki. Our goal is to make wiki.familysearch.org a friendly, welcoming place that is easy for you to use and make contributions. What are your ideas for making the wiki easier to use? Where would you like to find help? This is the page for your ideas for answers.

To express the problems you see, please go to Challenges Facing New Users. To add your "Vote" for those solutions you feel are most urgent and important, go to Newbies Priorities. Experienced users' feedback on your early, user experiences are also needed. This page is not placed on forums.familysearch.org to simplify access for newbies.

The written and verbal feedback I have received is posted below. Feel free to sign your comments or leave them annonymous. Kara aka CK Whipple 23:22, 5 November 2009 (UTC)

Feedback:

 * It seems as if the only place that feedback gets a response is in forums. Decide on the best place for users to give feedback and clearly communicate it. Respond to feedback wherever it gets posted (article discussion pages, main pages, sub pages, talk pages, the many forums...)
 * Offer a "Style Guide" that provides the type of information found in style guides for publication. (The current one is either too meager or else a standard search isn't bringing up what I'd expect.)
 * "Footnotes" is unstable. If a visitor is not signed in to the wiki, the footnotes don't even show up. If much copying and pasting takes place with the footnotes, the ampersand gets multiplied within wikitext. Promote other alternatives.
 * I suggest that additional levels of support be in place before any further blanket requests for contributions.
 * I think a general message should be sent to all of the Family History Centers throughout the world inviting them to use and add to WIKI.
 * Navigation should be moved to the left side. On many computers you have to scroll to the right to find it people I have helped didn't know where it was until I told them to scroll over.
 * Why is navigation on the right? People read from left to right. Wikipedia and FamilySearch both have left navigation.


 * About a year or more ago the wiki toolbar was on the left, I can't remember why it was changed, maybe someone could refresh my memory. FamilyJournals 20:35, 7 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Maybe this is something that could be addressed with skins? I don't all that much about them - if it's just color options or if layout can also be designed into them. Laralee 21:36, 7 November 2009 (UTC)


 * In reading the challenges page it sounds like a series of videos on editing the wiki would prove useful. Wikis do allow a lot more collaboration, but editing may never be as easy or intuitive as word processors. Laralee 14:49, 7 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Molly has done some videos, you can see one at How to Create an Article on FamilySearch Wiki. FamilyJournals 20:35, 7 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Yes, but the key word is "series." The editing instructions could be broken down much more. For instance, start with instructions for editing the page that you're viewing (rather than having to search for an article). The instructional video could be cleaned up: Sound is bland and cuts out; some text appears double on the page; navigating through the instructions is not user-friendly.


 * I don't know what resources are available, but if there are or could be resources (trained missionaries) to allow quick email and/or chat responses to questions so there is near real-time feedback that would help a lot of folks. Set up some categories so it can route to appropriate folks (contributing to the wiki (editing &amp; what's appropriate to contribute), research guidance, how to find what I'm looking for) Laralee 14:49, 7 November 2009 (UTC)


 * There are a few research missionaries that have been learning how to use the wiki. They split their time between many aspects of FamilySearch. They certainly could use more help. FamilyJournals 20:35, 7 November 2009 (UTC)


 * FAQ pages on editing, setting preferences, etc. There could be a FAQ category to pull all the FAQs together for a super-FAQ. Laralee 14:49, 7 November 2009 (UTC)
 * Promote the sandbox as a way to learn to edit and contribute without impacting the wiki. Laralee 14:49, 7 November 2009 (UTC)


 * Great idea! I agree with the use of sandboxes. They are so very helpful and nonthreatening. We should promote them more than we do. FamilyJournals 20:35, 7 November 2009 (UTC)