WikiWorld

Through the use of geo-tagging, a user’s question persists at the spot it was asked. In other words, the question remains where it originated, waiting for interaction from other WikiWorld users.

WikiWorld users who pass by the question will be informed of the question’s presence. They will then be able to contribute to the discussion. Here, users can share their knowledge by answering the question.

Alternatively, users can also expand their knowledge simply by reading other users’ responses. This approach lets users ask questions and get answers about any site, anywhere.

WikiWorld borrows from the Four-Phase Model Of Interest Development¹, ideas from Jerome Bruner and John Dewey, and also incorportates a few constructionist ideas. The following are the four phases and how they relate to

Phase 1: Triggered Situational Interest
Wikiworld provides users with additional stimuli in order to trigger initial interest in the site that may have otherwise been lost.

Phase 2: Maintained Situational Interest
Since WikiWorld is community based, there should be no shortage of questions to muse and responses to view. Fresh and dynamic content will maintain situational interest.

Phase 3: Emerging Individual Interest
WikiWorld allows the users to contribute by asking questions, submitting answers, and rating content.

Phase 4: Well-Developed Individual Interest
Users can create a profile in order to check the ratings of their contributions as well as view responses to their questions.

Users may also answer questions to the best of their ability. WikiWorld encourages all users to contribute as much as they can.

¹Hidi and Renninger, The Four-Phase Model of Interest Development EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST,41(2),111–127 Copyright ©2006, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.

Users have the ability to rate individual questions and responses. Points are assigned to the author of the question or response based on the rating assigned by other users. Over time, a user’s progress may be measured by the points acquired in WikiWorld. A question or response can either be rated as:

• A good contribution
• contribution that requires more work (it may be mis-worded confusing or otherwise difficult to comprehend)