Creating a WikiHow

Creating a WikiHow is a huge learning experience. Many have no idea that so much time and thought goes into creating anything published to the web, especially an instructional guide. You must think of several approaches to communicate what you are trying to say using different mediums, and simultaneously to keep in mind the possible comprehension of the audience that would be viewing your article.

 To start, what are you going to write an article about? The WikiHow environment does not allow any duplicate articles, so the pressure to be unique and original can be daunting. However, you may find an article about your original idea, and then tweak it so your article is original. For example, you may find an article that is about making a particular recipe, and you can then make your own with gluten free ingredients. There are thousands of ways to be original in the Wiki world, you just need to come up with ideas that no one else has done, or maybe innovate a previous idea.

 The photos used in an article must be taken to be simple, clear, and self-explanatory. In WikiHow articles that are designed to be a Do It Yourself (DIY) activity, clear and concise pictures were a must. Photos must be taken in even lighting and cannot feature any distractions, allowing the user to focus on the steps at hand.

 Referring to other WikiHow pages are extremely helpful, especially when one is not familiar with the WikiHow environment. Two articles that are helpful as a reference when writing a WikiHow article are How to Punch a Hole in a Belt  and How to Make DIY Mason Jar Chandelier. Both of these articles are Do It Yourself articles, with corresponding pictures and simple steps. These articles provide a basic outline (as well as HTML hints in the editing section) to create your own WikiHow page.

 When you do not collaborate with anyone else on this WikiHow project, the experience has the potential to be extremely personal. You must sort out your thoughts to provide instruction on something that you already know how to do. If you happen to be a Do It Yourself advocate yourself, you may often read what others have to say, but have never provided instructions for someone else to read. The experience of categorizing a WikiHow article in several steps id a complicated experience, yet a fulfilling one.

 Sharing the information on a webpage you are not previously familiar with is a challenge. When publishing to the World Wide Web, you have to keep in mind who will be viewing your article. Though you may be capable of writing at a collegiate level, not everyone who will be reading your article will be able to comprehend at the collegiate level. It is suggested to compose your article at a fifth grade reading level to accommodate all of those who will be viewing your WikiHow page. Composing your article at the elementary level may be an extra step for you, but it will ensure that you are able to reach a much larger audience online.

 Time management is a huge factor of managing any project, especially one with a deadline. With several components to manage, there must be a schedule for your progress. Keeping an agenda with several steps for yourself over time will help you complete your task in a timely manner. For example, making sure you have your photos done by the upcoming Tuesday, and then your steps by next Thursday. Time management makes the last at hand less daunting and will help you in the long run.

 Creating a step-by-step instructional may sound like an easy task, but creating your own WikiHow page proves your first impression otherwise. Translating your thoughts on to an instructional guide can be time consuming and relatively complicated, but not impossible. The most efficient way to create a step-by-step article is to imagine yourself consuming the article. Picture articles that you have read in the past and how easy, or not easy they were to comprehend. What features did the have? Were they long? Short? Elaborate? Concise? Keep these characteristics in mind when creating your own step-by-step article.

 No one wants to read a guide that isn't interesting. When creating an instructional guide, do your best to make it as interesting as possible. Making your article worth the read reflects you as an author, and in turn may have readers seek out other articles written by you. On the other hand, if you write a poorly written article, there is chance that once readers see who the next article is written by, they may think twice about even reading it. Always be conscious of how the article may effect your reputation as a writer and publisher before you post it.

 There may be little tips and tricks that you can use whilst constructing whichever step-by-step you are creating, but do not fit directly into your "Steps" section.  Creating a "Tips" section may be beneficial to both your user because it can provide a smoother process. Another category you can add are Warnings. Warnings are a feature that aren't commonly recognized in a step-by-step article, however useful and helpful. For example, when using hot tools, perhaps post a warning that the user has the potential to get burned.

 How to Make Mini Pallet Coasters is an interesting article, because it provides two approaches, rather than just one. These approaches were constructed to meet a larger audience. With a "traditional" approach and a "backwards" approach, it demonstrates that not everyone is able to construct things the same way. Both of the step-by-step guides also provide corresponding photographs that help the reader better visualize what they should be doing.

 When constructing your own WikiHow article, there are many things to keep in mind. With elements to the article such as photographs, references, information from other Wikis, collaboration with others (or on your own), personal experiences, sharing information, time management, and step-by-step instructions, it has the potential to be overwhelming.

And I think to Myself... What a Wonderful Web!

Web Evolution.. Can I get an Amen?!

As first-world as it may sound, Tim O'Reilly and his World Wide Web shakeouts may be some of the best things to ever happen to me. Seeming as how I used Web 3.0 to further look up information on the topic of Web Evolution, viewed the class blog (Web 2.0), and observed several informational Web 1.0 sites, it is safe to say that I use the web as a platform in my everyday life.

After researching the topic on oreilly.com, I have a much better understanding of Web 2.0. My description of Web 2.0 would be any situation where I can control the information that is put on the web. With examples like blogging, social media, Wiki's, etc, Web 2.0 provides a much richer user experience and participation.

Web 2.0 absolutely has surpassed the hype of excelling past Web 1.0 via a user standpoint. No longer are we in the days of strict publishing, stickiness, and Netscape. With the accessibility of any user go to on the World Wide Web and share their opinions, photos, and videos, we have all become "publishers" on the Internet. Though some of the lines can be a bit blurred when it comes to Web 1.0 and 2.0, as evolution typically is, I know that Web 2.0 has allowed us to see how applications work and allow us to change the content, making the Web a better place to be.

So is this a positive or a negative thing? Though having content management systems on most websites during the Web 1.0 era may have been a good thing, there was much less freedom and interaction. I believe that the transition from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 is only positive. There are still admin controls on many websites (I.e. Wikis), and the world has the right to chip in.

Web 3.0 is also a beautiful, beautiful thing. I cannot imagine a day without my search engine, and have not been able to since I was introduced to the simplicity of Google in my elementary  school days. With the world at my fingertips, I can have the answer to almost any question I may have borderline instantaneously. Semantic intelligent computing (Web 3.0) is a gigantic milestone for education. With millions of devices to access the internet with, we can improve learning outcomes by giving several sources and options for a student.

I personally have a hard time fathoming which direction Web 3.0 will go into, because I see no need for improvement in what I already have. Upon further research, I believe Web 3.0 will develop into Web 4.0 will be the "3-D Web". Due to bandwidth power and storage of the internet these days, it may be here sooner than we think. I believe Web 4.0 is about intelligence, and a completely virtual personalized experience. Though having everything personalized may be an advantage, I could see people getting concerned with their privacy. The only real way to tell how it will affect the world is to have it put into effect.

Web Evolution - A Revolution.

The evolution of the World Wide Web has evolved the world respectively. From Web 1.0, the "Syntactic Web", to Web 2.0, the "Social Web", and to present day Web 3.0, the "Semantic Web", the World Wide Web has evolved from File Servers to Artificial Intelligence in less than two decades. So where did it all begin?

The idea of "putting content together" can objectively describe Web 1.0. With a typically read-only server, it focused on private user and company homepages. HTML was the translator between the website and the user. Content was produced and monitored by Content Management Systems and Administrators, published, and then consumed by users. Though Web 1.0 is still used by thousands today, it was surpassed in 2001 by the Web 2.0 shakeout.

According to an article by Tim O'Reilly himself, the concept of "Web 2.0" began with a conference brainstorming session between O'Reilly and MediaLive International. The Web would soon be viewed as a platform where users control their own data. Innovative companies such as Wikipedia, Flickr, and BitTorrent have optimized user control and have allowed "everyday people" to contribute to the World Wide Web. This social web connects people through the use of social media, networking, blogs, email, and conferencing. Introducing XTML, XML, and RSS to the mix, Web 2.0 has offered syndication and participation to the world, allowing users to choose instead of forcing them to use what is already made.

Web 3.0, The Semantic Web, is a Web of data retrieval. Rather than searching and categorizing web pages ourselves, Web 3.0 reads and sorts websites for the consumer. Using RDF (Resource Description Framework) and URIs (Uniform Resource Identifiers), the Web is able use describe to represent information about resources, making it quicker and easier to be consumed by the user. According to g2techgroup.com's timeline, other highlights of Web 3.0 include Intelligent Collaborative Filtering, Artificial Intelligence, and Knowledge Management.

With increased processing power, bandwidth, and storage, Web 4.0 could develop sooner than we anticipate. Daniel Burrus, blogger at Big Think, explains that we are "creating a curve of exponential change". The "3D Web" could offer "inter-spatial places" and "showrooms". Burrus also describes the up and coming Web 4.0 as personal and ultra-intelligent, customizing each experience to the every particular user.

Since the World Wide Web has been used on the Internet, we have seen astronomical technological advances. The way we communicate and live our lives is impacted every day by Web. Whether we are speaking of Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Web 3.0, or dreaming of Web X.0, there is no doubt that the World Wide Web will continue to evolve, and change our lives forever.

WikiHow draft... DIY Pallet Coasters!

We have all seen the thousands of pallet DIY crafts that create wood pallets into coffee tables, bookshelves, shoe racks, and even bottle holders. But what about a pallet project that isn’t made from a pallet at all?

With only $5, you have the gateway to create cute and cozy pallet coasters for your home, or as a gift. What will you need? Just a standard package (100) Popsicle sticks, hot glue, a ruler, scissors, a silver permanent marker, and a cup of coffee!

To start, take your Popsicle sticks and measure them each out to 4” long. With a pencil, mark just the tips off of the stick to ensure that you will have a rectangle shape to your stick.

Next, take some scissors and cut off the tips of the Popsicle stick. Your result should be a 4” rectangular stick.

Once your sticks are all cut, pour some coffee into a bowl with the width long enough to hold all of your sticks. Dunk your sticks in the coffee and let them sit for an hour to give them an authentic skid color.

Take them out to dry. Once the sticks are dry to the touch, it's time to construct your mini pallets!

First, you are going to form the base of the pallet. Take two sticks and lay them parallel on an even surface.

Then, take your hot glue and make a thin line perpendicular to your stick along the very edge.

You will then take another stick and place it on the glue, again perpendicular, and hold to fasten.

Wa-la! You have started your pallet coaster and are ready to finish the base. Make the same glue line on each end of the parallel sticks you have laid out and repeat the previous step.

At this point, the hard part is over (phew). Your next task is to lay out the 7 top Popsicle sticks evenly apart across the top. TIP: Lay out the sticks before you begin to glue them, this will ensure all the spaces are even.

You should see your pallet take shape. Once it is completed, all that is left is to add the nails! No, not real nails. With your permanent marker!

Add two little silver dots side by side at each end of each stick. These little dots will resemble nails on a life size skid.

Each pallet coaster is composed of 12 popsicle sticks. A complete four pack coaster set will require 48 popsicle sticks (a standard package at the dollar store has 100 sticks)

OPTIONAL: You can stain, paint, Woodburn, or draw on your pallet coasters as you please! I have provided just the basic guide.

For a gift, feel free to buy some twine and create a bow on each direction. The twine will give it a rustic (and expensive) well put together gift look.

Thank you for reading!