{"id":34,"date":"2018-07-02T11:46:01","date_gmt":"2018-07-02T11:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thinking.is.ed.ac.uk\/wikitranslation\/?p=34"},"modified":"2018-07-04T22:49:28","modified_gmt":"2018-07-04T22:49:28","slug":"preparing-your-own-translation-workshop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinking.is.ed.ac.uk\/wikitranslation\/preparing-your-own-translation-workshop\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing your own Wikipedia editing workshop"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wikipedia editathons in a nutshell:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Choose a platform for managing the assignment you are happy with. Either a Project Page<\/a> or the Programs and Events Dashboard<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  2. Identify a focus area<\/em> for the assignment i.e. create a worklist as to which articles are to be created or improved during the assignment and whether there will be enough sources to help with the research. (Crowdsourcing this process and adding the worklist to an assignment page helps).<\/li>\n
  3. Make sure you have support for managing the assignment\u200a\u2014\u200aeither in-person or via email. Wikimedia UK can advise if there is someone local to you who could assist.<\/li>\n
  4. Start small and build up where possible. It is worthwhile spending the extra time at the beginning of the assignment on training your students to be comfortable editing in the first instance. (1\u20132 hours)\u200a\u2014\u200asee the lesson plan<\/a> for more info.<\/li>\n
  5. Ensure that time is spent at the publishing stage to tidy up the articles to give the new articles the best chance of remaining<\/em> If they are well-researched, well-referenced and well-written then there should be no problem here. Again seek support from a Wikimedian if you are unsure.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Getting started<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Firstly, it is helpful if you have access to a Wikimedian so the first port-of-call would be to drop Wikimedia UK an email\u00a0 at info@wikimedia.org.uk <\/strong>to see if there is someone \u2018wiki-literate\u2019 in your area who could help. Wikimedia UK are also collating best practice at UK universities<\/a> and have created a mailing list for educators in order that no educator ever works in isolation or unsupported so that each assignment builds from the experiences of the last.<\/p>\n

    Secondly, although there are instances where ambitious projects have borne fruit<\/a>, it is prudent to start with a small cohort and build up. As with other assignments, consider what you would like in terms of the outcomes of the Wikipedia event. A Wikimedian will advise and assist with how best to achieve your desired outcomes.<\/p>\n

    Thirdly, perform a content audit. Evaluate where you believe there is a content gap on Wikipedia (articles requiring improved or created) and weigh that against the availability of resources to help plug that gap. If your institution has a particularly rich vein of reliable published secondary sources not currently represented on Wikipedia, it would make sense to start there. Crowdsourcing ideas from colleagues is beneficial as involving other members of staff, particularly library colleagues, often yields some unexpected suggestions in terms of the sources available. The content audit also helps with assessing the assignment\u2019s year-on-year sustainability.<\/p>\n

    Preparing the editathon\u200a\u2014\u200ahoning in on its focus<\/strong><\/p>\n

    There are a number of ways of narrowing the field so that a worklist of articles to create\/improve can be prepared ahead of an event:<\/p>\n

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    1. Wikipedia\u2019s Category Tree system<\/a><\/strong> helps identify the taxonomy of the subject you are interested in.<\/li>\n
    2. Articles on Wikipedia are looked after by WikiProjects<\/a><\/strong> (groups of editors with a particular interest) for example there is a WikiProject Military History<\/a>, a WikiProject Biography<\/a>, a WikiProject Scotland<\/a>, WikiProject Archaeology<\/a> and a WikiProject Novels<\/a> etc. There are over 2000 WikiProjects on Wikipedia and a simple Wikipedia search<\/a> or Googling of the WikiProject you are interested in will take you to a page that:\n