Grants:Programs/Wikimedia Community Fund/Research on effectiveness of Wikipedia in Education as a platform of improving the cognitive ability among students/Final Report
Report Status: Accepted
Due date: 2023-04-30T00:00:00Z
Funding program: Wikimedia Community Fund
Report type: Final
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General information edit
This form is for organizations, groups, or individuals receiving Wikimedia Community Funds or Wikimedia Alliances Funds to report on their final results.
- Name of Organization: N/A
- Title of Proposal: Research on effectiveness of Wikipedia in Education as a platform of improving the cognitive ability among students
- Amount awarded: 28879 USD, 2165083 INR
- Amount spent: 2165607 INR
Part 1 Understanding your work edit
1. Briefly describe how your proposed activities and strategies were implemented.
27 female students from Dr. G. Shankar Government Women’s First Grade College & PG Study Centre Ajjarkadu Udupi, Karnataka, India, were taken into this program. Out of these, 23 students continued till the end of the research program. No major deviations from the original proposal was done in terms of program design and structure. Cognitive skills tests were conducted at the beginning, at mid-term and at the end of the course. Originally it was proposed to conduct one workshop every month. But this schedule could not be followed strictly due to situations like heavy rain, college examinations to students, other activities like college day. Hence more than one workshops were conducted in some months. As a sub-project, QR code project for the tourism places of Udupi district was designed, executed and completed as far as the articles are concerned. Two photowalks were organised as part of this project.
2. Were there any strategies or approaches that you felt were effective in achieving your goals?
Motivation is the most important factor. Students have to be motivated for actively participating and giving good contribution to Wikipedia and sister projects. Students are normally consumers of knowledge. By writing to Wikipedia, they become creators of knowledge. This fact when explained to the students, they gets thrilled and get motivated. They feel accomplished when they see their articles lie in Wikipedia. Any project or program to be successful, the complete involvement of the participant is a must. Motivation is the factor that drives this. Other minor driving factors might be the swags, reports about their work in media, etc.
3. Would you say that your project had any innovations? Are there things that you did very differently than you have seen them done by others?
None of the students possess laptop of PC. College has only one PC lab which is used by the entire college. Hence these students came to college on weekends for almost one year to complete the project. So much to say one journalist called them as weekend warriors. I am not aware of any Wikipedia project conducted for one year fully on weekends. This can be called as a kind of forced innovation. Nevertheless the enthusiasm and motivation among the participants are worth emulating at other places.
4. Please describe how different communities participated and/or were informed about your work.
Kannada and Tulu communities were informed through their respective Village Pumps, Facebook and Whatsapp groups. Community members participated and guided the students during the course. Different members participated on different days. They gave tutorials on different topics that helped the students in their learning process. 1. Kannada Wikipedia community - https://kn.wikipedia.org/s/2vh2 2. Karavali Wikimedians User Group - https://meta.wikimedia.org /wiki/Research_project_on_effectiveness_of_Wikipedia_in_education_as_a_platform_of_improving_the_cognitive_ability_among_s 3. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Wiki_ELearning_Udupi
5. Documentation of your impact. Please use the two spaces below to share files and links that help tell your story and impact. This can be documentation that shows your results through testimonies, videos, sound files, images (photos and infographics, etc.) social media posts, dashboards, etc.
- Upload Documents and Files
- Here is an additional field to type in URLs.
6. To what extent do you agree with the following statements regarding the work carried out with the support of this Fund? You can choose “not applicable” if your work does not relate to these goals.
| A. Bring in participants from underrepresented groups | Strongly agree |
| B. Create a more inclusive and connected culture in our community | Strongly agree |
| C. Develop content about underrepresented topics/groups | Agree |
| D. Develop content from underrepresented perspectives | Agree |
| E. Encourage the retention of editors | Agree |
| F. Encourage the retention of organizers | Agree |
| G. Increased participants' feelings of belonging and connection to the movement. | Agree |
7. Is there anything else you would like to share about how your efforts helped to bring in participants and/or build out content, particularly for underrepresented groups?
The participants were girl students of undergraduate courses from arts, commerce and science streams. This college is situated at a tier-II city of Karnataka state. Most students hail from not rich family backgrounds thus not able to afford computers/laptops. They are deprived of extensive use of technology for their study. They used the computer labs of the college to participate in this program. Apart from the main goal mentioned above, we also helped in bridging the gender and content gaps in the Wikipedia program and bringing more women into the fold of digital skills. Udupi is present in the coastal area of Karnataka state of India. Kannada, Tulu and Konkani are the languages used in this area. Students wrote articles in these language Wikipedias thereby addressing another area of improving Wikipedia content in these languages. They have actively participated in the program and added substantial content to Wikipedia. The details of which are available in the Outreach Dashboard - https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses/Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home
Part 2: Your main learning edit
8. In your application, you outlined your learning priorities. What did you learn about these areas during this period?
More detailed explanations of the project, the methodologies, the expected outcomes, are given in this Google doc - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cc0cbhmQgO_0YtCgyy-uaBh1jQ- vixqz/edit. The aim was to do research the impact of Wikipedia as a platform of learning in an academic environment. The aim was to understand how cognitive skills and the thought process are shaped by using Wikipedia as a platform of learning. Cognitive skills tests were conducted at the beginning of the program, at mid-term and at the end of the term. The results are quite encouraging. The same is given in a table form and chart form in this Google file - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets /d/17w4CwZbtrxi938kDpYb1GvjLGmStNB66/edit#gid=1503548969
9. Did anything unexpected or surprising happen when implementing your activities?
I had planned to have one, at the maximum of two, workshops/editathons per month during the period of the project. I thought the students will use the PC lab during the other time, like evenings, and ad do editing. But the college has no lab attendant hence there was no one to keep the lab open for the students after the last class. Hence more workshops/editathons were conducted on weekends. Almost all editing by the students were done on weekends. I had to travel on most weekends to Udupi to be present during these weekend workshops/editathons.
10. How do you hope to use this learning? For instance, do you have any new priorities, ideas for activities, or goals for the future?
There can be more editathons in PC labs since these student participants do not have laptops. In the future, it will be better if we can arrange laptops for these underprivileged group so that they can continue editing. We can think of hiring laptops during the period of the project in future.
11. If you were sitting with a friend to tell them one thing about your work during this fund, what would it be (think of inspiring or fascinating moments, tough challenges, interesting anecdotes, or anything that feels important to you)?
Weekend warriors – becoming digital one click at a time. Students are known as consumers of knowledge. But here is a bunch of girl students who are creators of knowledge. While most students enjoy on weekends, these students assemble on weekends and edit Wikipedia. As all of you know, Wikipedia is the source of open knowledge. These students are part of a certificate course called Wiki ELearning. By adding articles and expanding existing articles in Kannada Wikipiedia, they create free knowledge which anyone can consume. These students are part of a research project . The students take a test on cognitive skills in the beginning of the course, at mid-way and at the end of the course. The idea is to see if the cognitive skills are improved because of editing Wikipedia.
12. Please share resources that would be useful to share with other Wikimedia organizations so that they can learn from, adapt or build upon your work. For instance, guides, training material, presentations, work processes, or any other material the team has created to document and transfer knowledge about your work and can be useful for others. Please share any specific resources that you are creating, adapting/contextualizing in ways that are unique to your context (i.e. training material).
- Upload Documents and Files
- Here is an additional field to type in URLs.
Part 3: Metrics edit
13a. Open and additional metrics data
| Open Metrics | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | N/A | N/A | 23 | Number of participants. Initially it was 27. Ended up with 23. This kind of dropout was expected. Since we wanted 25, we started with 27 expecting 2 persons to dropout. But 4 have discontinued after participating in almost the first half. | Physically count the number of people present and document it. |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | 1010 | Number of articles crated by the participants. Details available at
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses /Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home |
Outreach dashboard
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses /Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | 1490 | Total number of articles edited. Details at https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses /Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home | Outrach dashboard used
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses /Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Additional Metrics | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of editors that continue to participate/retained after activities | N/A | N/A | 7 | None of the participant has laptop or PC at home. Some of them are still continuing to do some editing. They are doing this using mobile phones which restricts the ease of access. Hence they are mostly doing minor editing of existing articles rather than creating new articles. | User contribution command. |
| Number of organizers that continue to participate/retained after activities | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of strategic partnerships that contribute to longer term growth, diversity and sustainability | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Feedback from participants on effective strategies for attracting and retaining contributors | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Diversity of participants brought in by grantees | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of people reached through social media publications | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of activities developed | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Number of volunteer hours | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
13b. Additional core metrics data.
| Core metrics | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of participants | The number of participants, all female, in all activities. All these 25 will be new participants | 25 | 23 | Number of participants. Initially it was 27. Ended up with 23. This kind of dropout was expected. Since we wanted 25, we started with 27 expecting 2 persons to dropout. But 4 have discontinued after participating in almost the first half. | Physically count the number of people present and document it. |
| Number of editors | The number of editors, all female, in all activities. All these 25 will be new editors | 25 | 23 | Number of editors. Same explanation as above | Outreach Dashboard used
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses /Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home |
| Number of organizers | The number of organisers in all activities: 3
Out of these there may be one new organiser. |
3 | 4 | Different community members participated on different days. | Physically count and document |
| Wikimedia Project | Description | Target | Results | Comments | Methodology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Number of articles added: 125 | 125 | 1010 | Number of articles crated by the participants. Details available at
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses /Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home |
Outreachdashboard-
https://outreachdashboard.wmflabs.org/courses /Dr_G_Shankar_Govt_Women's_College_Udupi /Wiki_ELearning/home |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
14. Were there any metrics in your proposal that you could not collect or that you had to change?
No
15. If you have any difficulties collecting data to measure your results, please describe and add any recommendations on how to address them in the future.
Not applicable.
16. Use this space to link or upload any additional documents that would be useful to understand your data collection (e.g., dashboards, surveys you have carried out, communications material, training material, etc).
- Upload Documents and Files
- Here is an additional field to type in URLs.
Part 4: Organizational capacities & partnerships edit
17. Organizational Capacity
| A. Financial capacity and management | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| B. Conflict management or transformation | This capacity is low, and we should prioritise developing it |
| C. Leadership (i.e growing in potential leaders, leadership that fit organizational needs and values) | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| D. Partnership building | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| E. Strategic planning | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| F. Program design, implementation, and management | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| G. Scoping and testing new approaches, innovation | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| H. Recruiting new contributors (volunteer) | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| I. Support and growth path for different types of contributors (volunteers) | This capacity is low, and we should prioritise developing it |
| J. Governance | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| K. Communications, marketing, and social media | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| L. Staffing - hiring, monitoring, supporting in the areas needed for program implementation and sustainability | This capacity is low, and we should prioritise developing it |
| M. On-wiki technical skills | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| N. Accessing and using data | This capacity has grown but it should be further developed |
| O. Evaluating and learning from our work | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| P. Communicating and sharing what we learn with our peers and other stakeholders | This has grown over the last year, the capacity is high |
| N/A | |
| N/A |
17a. Which of the following factors most helped you to build capacities? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Peer to peer learning with other community members in community/ies of practice* (structured and continuous learning and sharing spaces), Peer to peer learning with other community members (but that is not continuous or structured), Using capacity building/training resources online from sources WITHIN the Wikimedia Movement
17b. Which of the following factors hindered your ability to build capacities? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Lack of staff time to participate in capacity building/training, Lack of volunteer time to participate in capacity building/training, Lack of training that fits contextual needs and interests
18. Is there anything else you would like to share about how your organizational capacity has grown, and areas where you require support?
Number of active editors has gone up. More members of have joined our User Group. We organised one meetup of Kannada Wikipedians. This helped in rejuvenating the community. All our activities need financial, technical and infrastructure support.
19. Partnerships over the funding period.
| A. We built strategic partnerships with other institutions or groups that will help us grow in the medium term (3 year time frame) | Agree |
| B. The partnerships we built with other institutions or groups helped to bring in more contributors from underrepresented groups | Agree |
| C. The partnerships we built with other institutions or groups helped to build out more content on underrepresented topics/groups | Agree |
19a. Which of the following factors most helped you to build partnerships? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Volunteers from our communities, Partners proactive interest
19b. Which of the following factors hindered your ability to build partnerships? Please pick a MAXIMUM of the three most relevant factors.
Lack of institutional support from the Wikimedia Foundation, Lack of staff to conduct outreach to new strategic partners, Lack of staff capacity to respond to partners interested in working with us
20. Please share your learning about strategies to build partnerships with other institutions and groups and any other learning about working with partners?
In this project, the work involved was partnering with educational institution which we accomplished. These kind of efforts yield results when the persons who are decision making are convinced of the usefulness of the project. Educational institutions look at the benefit their students get as well as the name they can make by joining with us. We need more materials for convincing others like brochures, booklets and videos.
Part 5: Sense of belonging and collaboration edit
21. What would it mean for your organization to feel a sense of belonging to the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement?
This project created new set of editors as well as members for our User Group. Kannada Wikipedians meetup held at the college brought in other active Wikipedians and these new editors had the opportunity to interact with veterans. This is the kind of ideal situation which every Wikimedian and the movement wants to be in. This new set of editors have taken keen interest in the movement and the happenings there. They also took interest in the activities and contributed to other sister projects of Wikimedia, viz., Wikisource, Wiktionary, Wikiquote, Wikidata, Commons. There is new level of energy flowing through the User Group because of this project. There must be some followup project to sustain the enthusiasm.
22. How has your (for individual grantees) or your group/organization’s (for organizational grantees) sense of belonging to the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement changed over the fund period?
Increased significantly
23. If you would like to, please share why it has changed in this way.
Because of this project, I was very much into Wikipedia and Wikimedia movement throughout the one year period. This increased the sense of involvement.
24. How has your group/organization’s sense of personal investment in the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement changed over the fund period?
Increased significantly
25. If you would like to, please share why it has changed in this way.
Same explanation as previous question.
26. Are there other movements besides the Wikimedia or free knowledge movement that play a central role in your motivation to contribute to Wikimedia projects? (for example, Black Lives Matter, Feminist movement, Climate Justice, or other activism spaces) If so, please describe it below.
I believe in bridging the digital divide. I strongly believe that the benefits of ICT must reach the rural India. For that to happen, the usage and outcome of ICT must be available in Indian languages. Wikipedia helps in bringing the world knowledge in Indian languages. This availability of knowledge in our languages, help to sustain and growth of our languages. I get sense of satisfaction when I contribute to Wikipedia that I helped in the growth of my language. These are my driving forces.
Supporting Peer Learning and Collaboration edit
We are interested in better supporting peer learning and collaboration in the movement.
27. Have you shared these results with Wikimedia affiliates or community members?
Yes
27a. Please describe how you have already shared them. Would you like to do more sharing, and if so how?
There was a meetup of Kannada Wikipedians held at Udupi on Jan 22, 2023. I gave a presentation about my work during this meetup. The page about the meetup is here - https://kn.wikipedia.org/s/2yz3. I have mentioned the summary of my research findings in Wikipedia related social media groups like Facebook, Whatsapp and Telegram groups.
28. How often do you currently share what you have learned with other Wikimedia Foundation grantees, and learn from them?
We do this occasionally (less than once a month)
29. How does your organization currently share mutual learning with other grantees?
We have onwiki, physical monthly meetings, Whatsapp groups, Facebook groups and Telegram groups. We exchange ideas, experiences and learnings there. As far this particular grant is considered, there is no other annual project grantee in South Asia to exchange learnings.
Part 6: Financial reporting and compliance edit
30. Please state the total amount spent in your local currency.
2165607
31. Local currency type
INR
32. Please report the funds received and spending in the currency of your fund.
- Upload Documents, Templates, and Files.
- Report funds received and spent, if template not used.
33. If you have not already done so in your budget report, please provide information on changes in the budget in relation to your original proposal.
Not major change
34. Do you have any unspent funds from the Fund?
34a. Please list the amount and currency you did not use and explain why.
N/A
34b. What are you planning to do with the underspent funds?
N/A
34c. Please provide details of hope to spend these funds.
N/A
35. Are you in compliance with the terms outlined in the fund agreement?
As required in the fund agreement, please report any deviations from your fund proposal here. Note that, among other things, any changes must be consistent with our WMF mission, must be for charitable purposes as defined in the grant agreement, and must otherwise comply with the grant agreement.
36. Are you in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations as outlined in the grant agreement?
Yes
37. Are you in compliance with provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), and with relevant tax laws and regulations restricting the use of the Funds as outlined in the grant agreement? In summary, this is to confirm that the funds were used in alignment with the WMF mission and for charitable/nonprofit/educational purposes.
Yes
38. If you have additional recommendations or reflections that don’t fit into the above sections, please write them here.
No