CONTENT TYPES

When presenting work, choose the appropriate presentation type because each has different capabilities and display features. If in doubt, present your work as a Project:

• Collaboration: A collaboration is project intended for multiple members of a group to edit and contribute to directly. When initiating a collaboration, it is recommended to present some starter content for the body, such as an outline. Follow this with a "comment" on the work that explains the purpose of the project, which will get the conversation started under the "discussion" tab for the project. Each time the document is edited and changed a new revision is saved which can have a revision "log message" associated with it. The "state" of the collaboration should be adjusted during the process to accurately reflect the status.
• Group Announcement: An announcement should be used to provide important information or ask a group-related question. Announcements have some special display options, such as a special tab in the My Unread page.
• Media: Present media such as video, slide presentations, and audio. Embeds of linked video (e.g. YouTube) can be performed using the media button on the text editor. Google Docs presentations may be embedded using the iframe code provided under "share" at Google Docs (note: click the HTML button in the text editor to insert the iframe code). Certain filetypes may also be uploaded. For example, upload an MP3 audio or Flash FLV and follow the instructions on the entry page for how to insert a tag so the player recognizes the content. PDF or image files may also be uploaded for the purpose of displaying material that requires a special graphical presentation (e.g. charts, tables).
• Paper: An in-depth, high quality written presentation on an applicable topic. Examples include position paper, review of literature, or original research report. The paper should include literary support with citations for original sources and a reference list according to a modified APA format. This is a major work that is very time intensive and allows for drafts, revisions, and feedback over several weeks. Feedback and comments on drafts are provided as a separate tab above the body of the paper. Each time the paper is saved, a new revision is saved along with any notes added about the revision in the "log message." The state of the paper should be changed when appropriate to accurately indicated the status. The state options include Editing (under revision by the author), Needs Review (seeking feedback on a draft), and Completed.
• Project: Projects can be a variety of different practical applications of knowledge. Most work should be presented as a project to a group.

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRESENTING WORK

• Use a descriptive title: This will help others know what is contained in the post and is also consistent titles used for good scholarly writing.
• Keep it plain: Text-based information is easier to share if it is simple (see further explanation). Use plain text or some simple formatting (e.g. bullets, block quotes, links, italics) to make written work compliant. Formatting rich material (e.g. tables, slideshows, PDFs ) can be presented as "media." 
• Write papers from start to finish on the site: Each paper revision is saved, so reverting back to older revisions is an option if something goes wrong. This will also provide an historical trail of work as a demonstration of progress from start to finish. Having the paper on the site during the entire process allows for better feedback and drafting. Also, problems from code carried in from copy-and-paste (from word processors) are also avoided. The text editor has several features to aid in the writing process, such as spellcheck, search and replace, and lists. Toggle the "fullscreen mode" button to open up the text editor in the entire browser window.
• Backup strategy: If you save your drafts often, the the site is a trustworthy place for keeping your work. However, it is always a good idea to have a back-up system in place. One quick technique to use when typing in a dialog box (on any site) is to press Ctrl-A (select all) and then Ctrl-V (copy) periodically so that if the browser or editor malfunctions, the copy is in the memory and it can be pasted somewhere else to be saved. Of course, this doesn't help if your computer turns off or freezes, so saving to your hard drive with a simple text editor (like Notepad) is more full proof. Emailing text to yourself is another strategy.
• Collaborate: Contributions to collaborations are highly recommended.

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Also, see the tutorial on navigating the site.