Learning patterns/An advanced editing workshop: a social and professional get-together of new and veteran editors.

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An advanced editing workshop: a social and professional get-together of new and veteran editors.

problemThe percentage of participants in one-time editing workshops, who continue to be active in editing six months after the conclusion of the workshop, is extremely low. Oftentimes, new editors cease thei

solutionAdvanced editing workshops, attended by community members, for people who have prior experience in editing in Wikipedia. The workshop enables novice and veteran editors to meet face-to-face, exchange

creator• Chenspec-WMIL

created on12:29, 30 March 2015 (UTC)

status:DRAFT

What problem does this solve?

Advanced editing workshops, attended by community members, are intended for people who have had some experience in editing in Wikipedia, and therefore do not require instruction of basic skills. The workshop affords the chance to practice editing, learn advanced editing options and create new social ties.

What is the solution?

An advanced editing workshop: a social and professional get-together of new and veteran editors

Goals: The new editors will advance their editing skills and will continue to editing The veteran editors will improve their guidance skills The participants will enjoy a better community atmosphere, and will transfer the face-to-face relationships into the an on-wiki collaboration All participants should have fun!

Things to consider

Planning the Workshop:

• Choose Location: A venue with two or three rooms. A “quiet room” for people who would like to edit by themselves ; “editing room” for working in small groups and a space for meetup and short lectures
• Choose Dates: An advanced editing workshop should take between 6 to 8 hours.

Weekends or holidays can be a more suitable time for such an event.

• Create a timetable for the workshop
  • Don’t forget gathering time and breaks…
  • two to three short lectures about editing, Wikipedia community and community initiatives will break the routine and give the veteran editors to show their knowledge

Project page

Establish a project page in Wikipedia that includes the following:

• General description of the event: date, location, etc.
• A time table.
• List of articles/entries to be worked on in the workshop.
• Space allotted for asking questions and make requests.
• Separate subscription forms for veteran and new editors.
• Other useful links (e.g. tutorials).

Prior to the workshop

• Publish the workshop in community pages and request that veteran editors personally invite new editors.
• Send invitation via email to participants of one-time workshops.
• Publish in relevant Facebook groups
• Make sure that all subscribers have selected articles/entries to work on, and contact them if they haven’t.
• Prepare supporting materials: name tags, light refreshment, etc

On the day of the workshop

• Open the work with a smile :-). Welcome everyone and provide a brief explanation about the day’s activities, goals and schedule.
• Organize a “get acquainted” activity where each participant introduces himself/herself, tells about his/her fields of interests, whether he/she is a new or veteran editor, and what brought him/her to Wikipedia.
• Encourage new editors to mingle with as many veteran editors as possible.
• Short lectures need to be spaced throughout the day. If possible, lectures need to be held at a location where the activities can progress without interruption.
• At the end of the day, summarize the activity to get immediate feedback as well as recommendations for improvement.
• Ask for contact information from participants.

During the workshop

• Pay attention to the participants, ask them how they are doing.
• Track the activities of veteran editors and spot Wikipedians with good training skills who may assist in future meetings.
• Speak with each new editor and ask about the kind of activity he/she may want to take part of or assist in the future.

After the workshop

• Ask one of the participants, who seemed especially involved, to write his/her own experience of the day in the project page. These summaries increase the motivation of the participants to attend future meetings.
• Personally thank the veteran volunteers for their contribution to the meeting on their talk pages.
• Follow up on the activities of new editors and contact them when needed.

When to use

Who Will Attend?:

Editors who are already involved in the training of new editors Veteran Editors Novice editors, with an experience of editing at least one article

See also

Related patterns

• Grants:Learning patterns/Edit-a-thon worklists
• Grants:Learning patterns/Event planning process
• Grants:Learning patterns/Mix newcomers and veterans
• Grants:Learning patterns/Fear of editing
• Grants:Learning patterns/Repeat events