Wikijunior
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikijunior is a subproject of Wikibooks that specializes in books for children.[1] This effort consists of both a website and magazine. The website is currently in development in English, Danish, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, but is expected to be in at least a dozen languages. Wikijunior is funded by a grant from the Beck Foundation.
The project is currently developing three series of print books:
- The Natural World
- Biology/Geography series. This series includes the titles: "Big Cats" and "Dinosaurs".
- Our World of People
- Culture/History/Life/Society series. This series includes the titles: "South America", "Languages", "Kings and Queens of England", and "Ancient Civilizations".
- A World of Discovery and Innovation
- Mathematics/Science/Technology series. This series includes the titles: "Solar System", "How Things Work" and "The Elements".
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[edit] Project history
The Beck Foundation approached Wikimedia to create a set of wiki books for youth, offering a major startup grant for the effort. The concept was approved by the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees on October 16, 2004. Wikijunior was initiated October 24 on Wikimedia's Meta site by Wikimedia staff member Danny Wool.
Development of the actual content began 7 November 2004 on Wikibooks, a month after the effort was first mentioned.
The Beck Foundation grant was solely to support the project with server space, not to publish or distribute the books. Negotiations to obtain an additional grant for the creation of a print version are ongoing as of July 2006.[2]
[edit] Criticism
In 2006 Wikijunior was found to have an average readability of grade level 8.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ TAGorg Participates in 2007 Wikimania Conference in Taiwan. ag-IP-news (23/8/2007). Retrieved on 2007-08-25.
- ^ [Foundation-l] Offering Wikibooks content for sale
- ^ McPherson, Keith (2006-10-01). "Wikis and literacy development". Teacher Librarian. Scarecrow Press, Inc..
[edit] External links
- Meta Wiki: Wikijunior, administrative coordination page
- Wikibooks: Wikijunior, the development area
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