Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of Washington/Building Successful Online Communities (Fall 2024)

{{course details

| course_name = Building Successful Online Communities

| instructor_username = Benjamin Mako Hill

| instructor_realname = Benjamin Mako Hill

| support_staff = Ian (Wiki Ed)

| subject = Communication

| start_date = 2024-09-25 00:00:00 UTC

| end_date = 2024-12-06 23:59:59 UTC

| institution = University of Washington

| expected_students = 20

| assignment_page = Wikipedia:Wiki_Ed/University_of_Washington/Building_Successful_Online_Communities_(Fall_2024)

| slug = University_of_Washington/Building_Successful_Online_Communities_(Fall_2024)

| campaigns = National Communication Association, Fall 2024

| dashboard.wikiedu.org = yes

}}

Before Wikipedia was created, there were seven very similar attempts to build online collaborative encyclopedias. Before Facebook, there were dozens of very similar social networks. Why did Wikipedia and Facebook take off when so many similar sites struggled? Why do some attempts to build communities online lead to large thriving communities while most struggle to attract even a small group of users?

This class will begin with an introduction to several decades of research on computer-mediated communication and online communities to try and understand the building blocks of successful online communities. With this theoretical background in hand, every student will then apply this new understanding by helping to design, build, and improve a real online community.

{{student table row|Rantang7136|First Historical Archives of China|Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Liuyang fireworks}}

{{student table row|Meganisrad|Jewish deli|Accessibility apps, Ballade (classical music)}}

{{student table row|Ruinan Wang|Liuyang fireworks|Accessibility apps, Ballade (classical music)}}

{{student table row|Betty Cohn|Non-paternity event|Columbia Park (Seattle), Jewish deli}}

{{student table row|Chentaocui|Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture|First Historical Archives of China, Nanchong Senior High School}}

{{student table row|Haizhen Sun|Accessibility apps|Non-paternity event, First Historical Archives of China}}

{{student table row|Emilyvhuang|Ballade (classical music)|Liuyang fireworks, Columbia Park (Seattle)}}

{{student table row|Haitongzhang|Nanchong Senior High School|Non-paternity event, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture}}

{{student table row|CiderDog06|Columbia Park (Seattle)|TopatoCo, Jewish deli}}