Developing Patterns

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Developing patterns is not particularly difficult but some aspects of it may require a different perspective. This document describes all the attributes that accompany a pattern. Please also view the example patterns for more clarification.

Pattern Name [required]

This is the name or title of the pattern. It should be relatively brief (one-ten words).

Invariance [required]

This attribute describes how applicable this pattern is. If you feel that it is absolutely essential and applicable in every context then it is probably a "true invariant" and you should rate it "high." If you feel that it is generally applicable you should rate it "medium." If you feel that the pattern is useful but probably requires more study and refinement you should rate it as "low." Please don't be discouraged from entering patterns with low invariance.

Descriptive Image [optional]

This picture shows an archetypal example of your pattern. Although this is an optional element we encourage you to include one. It can be a photograph, drawing, diagram or any graphic element that helps illustrate or exemplify the pattern. A descriptive image can supply useful information that is difficult to provide in words and make the pattern page more attractive and consistent with other patterns.

The "descriptive graphic" field in the form is a "file upload" field. What that means is that the graphic must be in a file somewhere on your own computer; when you submit your pattern, the file will be uploaded to our site and stored in a file there. To use the field, press the browse button to the left of the text field to start a file browser, then navigate to the graphic file.

Additional considerations:

• We only accept JPEG, GIF, and PNG image types, because those are the only types that are displayed by most web browsers.
• The maximum file size of your image is 150,000 bytes, this because larger images would download too slowly to be useful for people viewing your pattern.
• If edit your pattern after the initial submission, you don't need to upload your image again; if you enter nothing in the upload field, we will leave the existing image alone. But if you wish to change the image, you may upload a new one when you edit your pattern, and we will overwrite the existing image.

Problem [required]

This shows the essence of the problem in one or two sentences.

Discussion [required]

The discussion section describes the empirical background of pattern (its context), evidence for its validity, range of ways that the pattern can be manifested. Note that this is the longest section (300 - 600 words). If, for example, you'd like to embolden certain words or include information in list form, you can embed HTML coding in this section or other text sections of the pattern.

Solution [required]

The solution contains the solution to the problem in summary form. It describes the field of physical and social relationships which are required to solve the stated problem, in the stated context.

Summary Image [optional]

This summary image shows a pictorial representation (diagram) of the solution. Although this is an optional element we encourage you to include one. A summary image can supply useful information that is difficult to provide in words and make the pattern page more attractive and consistent with other patterns.

Please see the section on the Descriptive Image, above, for information on how to use the form field to upload a graphic file.

Categories

The categories attribute will be used to help link related patterns. Check as many as you want.

orientation

describes the purpose, principles and perspectives that help energize an effective deployment of this work.

organization

refers to the structures, methods and roles by which people engage in this work.

engagement

refers to the ways in which this work is an active force for thought, action, and social change.

social learning and intelligence

refers to the ways that this work can take advantage of information and communication and improve over time.

products and projects

refers to some of the outcomes, both long-term and incremental, that this work might produce.

resources

refers to the types of support that people and institutions engaged in this work would need.

References [optional]

References can be books, articles, web sites, etc. You may add up to five of them here. Please use a standard format on the reference. Here is a sample entry for a book:

Alexander, C., Ishikawa, S., and Silverstein, M. (1977). A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Alkalimat, A., Gills, D., and Williams, K. (Eds.) (1995). Job-Tech: The Technological Revolution and Its Impact on Society. Chicago, IL: Twenty-First Century Books.

Alperovitz, G. (1994, Oct.). Distributing our technological inheritance. Technology Review.

Namioka, A., and Schuler, D. (1996). Developing community networks. Workshop handouts. http://www.scn.org/commnet/workshop.html.

Note that there are other attributes (such as links to other patterns) that we're unable to display at this phase in the development of the patterns.