Grants:IdeaLab/Administrator training contracted to experts
Project idea edit
What is the problem you're trying to solve? edit
Training of site administrators would produce more consistent, and hopefully more satisfactory results for community health. But exactly what should that training consist of, and who should do it?
Many discussions and proposals have suggested that Wikipedians need to become more familiar with best practices for site administration, and have suggested ways to further study the situation and compile information about useful examples.
What is your solution? edit
However, these examples of best practices have already been sought and compiled by a number of other organizations.
Because so many other online communities face similar situations to Wikipedia in maintaining community health, an occupational specialty called "community managers" has emerged. These community managers trade tips and tricks, hold courses, and have created an emerging "community of practice" for people responsible for maintaing online communities.
Rather than re-inventing the wheel, it would make sense to contract with companies like this to create an initial version of training for Wikipedia site administrators and functionaries. It might even be useful to try two different types of training, by two different companies, and compare the way that different works.
Project goals edit
There are at least two consulting companies that specialize in online community health:
- FeverBee - https://www.feverbee.com/
- eModeration - http://www.emoderation.com/
A pilot program of training run by contracted professionals would give Wikipedians something concrete to work with, and a head start on using some of the techniques that have been successful on other websites.
Using best practices common in other online communities would also facilitate resolving the complicated situations that emerge when online conflicts start to spill over onto other websites outside Wikipedia.
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