knowledge
Examplopedia
idea posted by cidviscous Thu, 2007-10-04 11:44 Tags:Examplopedia
Learning By Example
If you're like me, there are times when it's easier to get your head around a concept by relating it to other concepts that you already understand. Using an example to draw parallels about a new idea or situation can be a powerful way to quickly grasp a concept.
Enter Examplopedia
The Examplopedia is a forum for expanations based on examples, rather than technical descriptions. Whereas sites such as Wikipedia strive to achieve integrity (of their content) through strict quality control techniques (such as citations and references), the Examplopedia would achieve quality control through logical proofs, and subsequent debates and discussions by participants. Again, like Wikipedia, there is room for representation of alternative points of view, but unlike Wikipedia, the focus is to provide examples (which can be used as tools for communication and understanding and forming relationships).
Or, to use an example--Examplopedia would be a thesaurus to the dictionary that is Wikipedia.
Cold Hard Facts
There is absolutely a need for technical descriptions, proofs, and other types of literal, specific verbage. It's good to be able to prove what you know.
On the other hand, the necessities imposed by such strict rules (neutrality, citations, references, etc.) can cause such descriptions to take on a very cold, sterile feel, which turns many people off. Examplopedia would help to spread the understanding of ideas by providing an engaging, quickly digestible nugget which can be absorbed (without knowing high-scoring scrabble words).
The disctinction is while Wikipedia seeks to represent all (and only) the provable, referenceable facts, the Examplopedia seeks to harness examples to help people understand the underlying concepts.
Having the knowledge (facts) is essential to understanding, and understanding is useless without the proper knowledge. Neither is whole without the other.
Types of Examples
Some concepts (especially complex or abstract ideas) can be broken down or explained by examples at different levels.
More complex ideas could be separated in a hierarchy with specific examples relevant to the level or particular area being read about.
I think it's also safe to say that different people are going to relate to different types of examples better than other types. There is nothing wrong with having multiple examples to relate to a concept with. In fact, it would almost be essential to make this effective. Specific examples could be rated up and down by users/popularity as well as categorized (e.g. 'sports examples').
Dangers
Just like any form of communication so far, examples, if used or constructed improperly, can lead to miscommunication. This is inherent to every type of language to exist. Taking thoughts and translating them into words can be so imprecise, but we use what we've got, no?
Just as a skilled speaker carefully chooses his/her words so as not to add a false impression, or leave out a vital piece on information, choosing the correct example, and the best way to display the example is important for properly transferring the intent (or the message).
Learning By Example
If you're like me, there are times when it's easier to get your head around a concept by relating it to other concepts that you already understand. Using an example to draw parallels about a new idea or situation can be a powerful way to quickly grasp a concept.
Enter Examplopedia
The Examplopedia is a forum for expanations based on examples, rather than technical descriptions. Whereas sites such as Wikipedia strive to achieve integrity (of their content) through strict quality control techniques (such as citations and references), the Examplopedia would achieve quality control through logical proofs, and subsequent debates and discussions by participants. Again, like Wikipedia, there is room for representation of alternative points of view, but unlike Wikipedia, the focus is to provide examples (which can be used as tools for communication and understanding and forming relationships).
Or, to use an example--Examplopedia would be a thesaurus to the dictionary that is Wikipedia.
Cold Hard Facts
There is absolutely a need for technical descriptions, proofs, and other types of literal, specific verbage. It's good to be able to prove what you know.
On the other hand, the necessities imposed by such strict rules (neutrality, citations, references, etc.) can cause such descriptions to take on a very cold, sterile feel, which turns many people off. Examplopedia would help to spread the understanding of ideas by providing an engaging, quickly digestible nugget which can be absorbed (without knowing high-scoring scrabble words).
The disctinction is while Wikipedia seeks to represent all (and only) the provable, referenceable facts, the Examplopedia seeks to harness examples to help people understand the underlying concepts.
Having the knowledge (facts) is essential to understanding, and understanding is useless without the proper knowledge. Neither is whole without the other.
Types of Examples
Some concepts (especially complex or abstract ideas) can be broken down or explained by examples at different levels.
More complex ideas could be separated in a hierarchy with specific examples relevant to the level or particular area being read about.
I think it's also safe to say that different people are going to relate to different types of examples better than other types. There is nothing wrong with having multiple examples to relate to a concept with. In fact, it would almost be essential to make this effective. Specific examples could be rated up and down by users/popularity as well as categorized (e.g. 'sports examples').
Dangers
Just like any form of communication so far, examples, if used or constructed improperly, can lead to miscommunication. This is inherent to every type of language to exist. Taking thoughts and translating them into words can be so imprecise, but we use what we've got, no?
Just as a skilled speaker carefully chooses his/her words so as not to add a false impression, or leave out a vital piece on information, choosing the correct example, and the best way to display the example is important for properly transferring the intent (or the message).
A collaborative knowledge repository using examples to explain concepts, objects, and situatations, rather than descriptions
»