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A Modest Proposal: a wiki for all comics education?

In the last six months or so, Matt and I have encountered or heard about a huge number of comics teachers, classes, and programs, scattered around the globe. We’ve also realized that the vast majority of the educators involved in these efforts (and we include ourselves) have no idea who and what else is out there. Never mind students: how could an 18-year-old aspiring cartoonist get a grasp on what’s out there in comics education in order to make an informed choice as to where to study? It’s daunting for even the most experienced of us.

So. Here’s an idea: What about creating a wiki where comics educators could create and update listings on what they have to offer? And of course, being a wiki, students and former students could add information on their experiences? We could tag and sort entries by geographical location, type of study available (studio or academic), faculty interests, level of study (from casual workshops to advanced graduate study) and more.

This is a project we’d love to host and be involved in, but don’t have the technical expertise or time to create from the ground up. So consider this a call: if you’re experienced in creating wikis, and interested in comics education, we need your help! Get in touch and let’s start this cool and useful project.

Comments

20 Comments to A Modest Proposal: a wiki for all comics education?

  • by Maureen Bakis

    On June 27, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    Sounds great!!

  • by tyler

    On June 27, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    I’m not the man to build a wiki, but I think this is a great idea. would it be similar to some of the stuff that’s over at teachingcomics.org?

  • by Jessica

    On June 27, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    I think teachingcomics.org is great, and yes, this would be similar in some ways, but I see it as being more searchable, and with more info on the wiki itself, as opposed to linking out: like, there could be sections listing all the courses offered at a given program, faculty bios, and sample student work. There could be as much or as little as a school or teacher wanted to add. (though I’d think that we should work up some suggested sections). I think it could also offer info on academic programs as well as studio. For example, lately there was a whole Twitter convo about a new comics (academic) program in the UK touting itself as “first” but then several other Twitterers pointed out that there are several existing comics programs, both studio and academic. Wouldn’t it be great to gather that info and preserve it, rather than let it disappear with the Twitter stream?

  • by Keijjo

    On June 28, 2011 at 1:10 am

    In finnish one like that exists here: making-comics-wiki
    http://www.sarjakuvanteko.fi/wiki/index.php?title=Etusivu

  • by William Fee

    On June 28, 2011 at 7:48 am

    Sounds like a great idea. I’m a librarian (comics cataloger), not a teacher, but when I see that it’s out I’ll catalog it and add it to OCLC.

  • by Bill Gathen

    On June 28, 2011 at 10:32 am

    Excellent idea!

    These days most web hosting companies offer a (free) pre-configured wiki package you can just flip a switch to enable. The one I’m on uses mediawiki, which is what powers Wikipedia. Check with your provider for dw-wp.com and see if they do. You shouldn’t need a dedicated site or to “build” the wiki at all.

  • by Jessica

    On June 28, 2011 at 10:59 am

    Thanks for the tip, Bill–I’m sure we’ve got that. I’ll get it turned on ASAP, and then it’s on to filling the wiki with info! Should we have guidelines to help people know what to add? And if so, crowdsource them?

  • by Bill Gathen

    On June 28, 2011 at 11:07 am

    I think guidelines (and examples) would be helpful in order to make sure things are consistent enough to be findable. For instance, contact info for a school would be pretty important! :-)

    Setting up some initial categories would help convey your vision for the site as well as spark ideas in your readers. “Oh, I know a good resource for that!”

    Sweeping the site regularly and “straightening things” will probably be necessary if you crowdsource it, because everyone’s standards of excellence may not match yours. :-P

    It will be a grand adventure, I’m sure.

  • by Max

    On June 29, 2011 at 9:48 am

    I love this idea.

  • by Jessica

    On June 29, 2011 at 10:14 am

    OK, quick extra info:

    here’s a discussion of approaches: http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/602144
    Here’s the link to mediawiki http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/MediaWiki
    and wikkawiki http://wikkawiki.org/HomePage
    and a list of other wiki software http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wiki_software

    …we (the collective) can also use something like http://www.wikispaces.com/ but it might cost something.

    We (DWWP) can install some wiki software if there’s someone out there with PHP experience who can set up and help us configure…

  • by Bill Gathen

    On June 29, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Jessica,

    I take it your hosting provider doesn’t have a turn-key solution? My sites are on http://aplus.net: you pull up the admin page, click a button and your wiki is live. I’d think this is a pretty common offering these days.

  • by Jessica

    On June 29, 2011 at 11:07 am

    No, we’re on http://mediatemple.net and they don’t have a wiki set up. I asked. Too bad!

  • by Max

    On June 29, 2011 at 2:51 pm

    It’s pretty easy to install — http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Download

    And then you’ll probably need to add an .htaccess file (like the following) to enable PHP5
    http://www.adamthody.com/2008/09/php5-on-media-temple-grid-server/

  • by Jessica

    On June 29, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    OK, Max, we can probably manage that, but then what? We don’t have the skillz to work with PHP, and have no idea what it would entail to actually configure beyond installation.

  • by Dan Berry

    On June 30, 2011 at 10:01 am

    Hi Jessica, I’ve done this kind of stuff before. I can get it working without too much trouble. Let me know if you want me to have a look into it.

  • by Jessica

    On June 30, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Dan, that would be fantastic. and since you’re one of those educators whose school should be listed, you’re definitely the right guy to be configuring. I’ll be in touch privately.

  • by Markus Freise

    On July 1, 2011 at 3:34 pm

    Hi Fellows,

    I am a german comic artist and love to participate.

    Greets
    Markus

  • by Maryann Molishus

    On July 4, 2011 at 3:01 pm

    Hi, All,

    I use Wikispaces, but I think you would want something more flexible. I have presented on the topic of comic integration at a few conferences, and I, too, have found, as I have done research, that comic resources are “scattered all about.” I do think I have some organizing to do on my site. If you go to this home page and click on Comics in the Classroom on the left, you will see what I have right now. http://molishus.wikispaces.com

    Let me know if I can help.

    Maryann

  • by Beth Bachuss

    On August 11, 2015 at 4:26 pm

    Did this ever happen? I am a high school teacher and I have a Comic Art class this year.

  • by Jessica

    On August 12, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    Unfortunately, no. It started to happen, but the impulse faded for the whole group. But I hope you’ll find lots of useful info on this site and in our books!

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