Grants:Project/Yomomo/Mathematrix
Project idea
editWhat is the problem you're trying to solve?
editWhat problem are you trying to solve by doing this project? This problem should be small enough that you expect it to be completely or mostly resolved by the end of this project.
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
Mathematical articles in German (and other) wikipedia are often written in an abstract scientific language, not understandable by lay persons. Parents in many countries finance often private tuition for mathematics. In these ways is this knowledge not free available for everybody. Mathematics can be (and often are) used to control people, it can be also used though towards their emancipation.
What is your solution to this problem?
editFor the problem you identified in the previous section, briefly describe your how you would like to address this problem.
We recognize that there are many ways to solve a problem. We’d like to understand why you chose this particular solution, and why you think it is worth pursuing.
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
Creation of a step by step self-learning mathematics site in simple language, also easy adjustable for every type of school. The project is already in development and is called Mathematrix. It is part (for the time being only) of the German Wikibooks project.
Project goals
editWhat are your goals for this project? Your goals should describe the top two or three benefits that will come out of your project. These should be benefits to the Wikimedia projects or Wikimedia communities. They should not be benefits to you individually.
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
The first three goals of the project have already been fulfilled - a site with a large part of the basics of mathematics (including videos, exercises and links to other relevant internet sites) and two self-learning mathematics sites for adult lay persons in Austria who haven't completed the obligatory or high school respectively, all part of the German Wikibooks.
- The first next goal is to attract teachers and other volunteers to contribute in the project.
- The second goal will be the extension of the site for a third group, minors learning mathematics in the official Austrian school system and their parents.
- The third goal of the project is a political and social impact. The examples and exercises given should contribute to a deeper knowledge on social and political issues.
Project impact
editHow will you know if you have met your goals?
editFor each of your goals, we’d like you to answer the following questions:
- During your project, what will you do to achieve this goal? (These are your outputs.)
- Once your project is over, how will it continue to positively impact the Wikimedia community or projects? (These are your outcomes.)
For each of your answers, think about how you will capture this information. Will you capture it with a survey? With a story? Will you measure it with a number? Remember, if you plan to measure a number, you will need to set a numeric target in your proposal (i.e. 45 people, 10 articles, 100 scanned documents).
Remember to review the tutorial for tips on how to answer this question.
- The number of active participants (teachers and other volunteers) will reach at least 5.
- For the second goal a study can be carried out with minors attending the official school in order to find out, how effective the site can help in learning mathematics.
- In such a study the effect on social and political knowledge can also be monitored.
- Once the project is over, it will be much easier to extend it in other school forms and other languages. This could contribute to enlarging the active community and the number of participating teachers.
- For the rest please see the next paragraphs
Do you have any goals around participation or content?
editAre any of your goals related to increasing participation within the Wikimedia movement, or increasing/improving the content on Wikimedia projects? If so, we ask that you look through these three metrics, and include any that are relevant to your project. Please set a numeric target against the metrics, if applicable.
The organizer of the project has created in the last 3 years a very extended mathematical learning site in Wikibooks (called Mathematrix). Example: more than 350 contributions in the last month (which was actually one of the least productive in the last year): Yomomo contributions. The intention is to enlarge the content of Mathematrix (for the time being only in German Wikibooks) and create new improved videos for most of the content. In order to reach this goal, active participants are needed. Seminars will be organized with mathematics students and teachers, in order to enlarge the Wiki-Community.
Project plan
editActivities
editTell us how you'll carry out your project. What will you and other organizers spend your time doing? What will you have done at the end of your project? How will you follow-up with people that are involved with your project?
- To fulfill the first goal direct contact with volunteer organizations universities and schools will be needed, in order to find persons (teachers, students etc), that are willing to contribute. As most of the teachers (and also many students) are also offering private tuition and as it es assumed to be normal, it is highly probable that the project will be confronted with resistance. PR advice will therefore be needed. State organizations and NGOs that are supposed to work for equality (and sometimes actually do it) are also part of the target group.
- The second goal will be fulfilled through writing contend and creating videos. In order to manage this in an adequate manner, the fulfillment of the first goal is important.
- In order to fulfill the third goal, the contend should be adjusted wherever possible. Examples: how strong is the global and local wealth inequality, how strong is the global and local inequality between men and women, what does an exponential growth of the population mean, what can an exponential growing economy mean, how can you make judgements about the seriousness of a health factor (smoking, epidemic ect), what is the impact of our consuming society on the planet etc. This goal is already in development. One more way to fulfill this goal is purposefully providing wrong answers to the exercises and motivating readers to find them. This could lead to a more scientific and democratic attitude, as it is promoting a critical spirit also towards scientific authority (which should be an oxymoron according to Popper)
- Advertising will also be needed, to make the project wide known.
Budget
editHow you will use the funds you are requesting? List bullet points for each expense. (You can create a table later if needed.) Don’t forget to include a total amount, and update this amount in the Probox at the top of your page too!
I actually have no experience with organizing such thing and any help in any form would be really great.
- Project manager: 0-12000 € (this means, I don't really need money, although I don't possess so much, on the other hand, I would be happy, if my project will be appreciated, also in terms of money. As a comparison: last year I earned about 30000 € and donated about 14000...)
- Camera and other devices and software for creating videos: 10000 €
- Advertisement, Seminars: 20000 €
- Other: 3000 €
Community engagement
editHow will you let others in your community know about your project? Why are you targeting a specific audience? How will you engage the community you’re aiming to serve at various points during your project? Community input and participation helps make projects successful.
I have little experience in this issue and would appreciate any help, even if the project will not be granted. For the targets see previous paragraphs.
Get involved
editParticipants
editPlease use this section to tell us more about who is working on this project. For each member of the team, please describe any project-related skills, experience, or other background you have that might help contribute to making this idea a success.
Yomomo (Georg Riso) is actually teaching asylum seeking (or granted) persons (mainly from Syria, Afghanistan and Ethiopia) and adults that didn't make it in the official school system in Austria. The project arose through his experience with these people and is dedicated to them. The project is already been successfully used in these groups and seeks for a much larger audience...
Community notification
editYou are responsible for notifying relevant communities of your proposal, so that they can help you! Depending on your project, notification may be most appropriate on a Village Pump, talk page, mailing list, etc.
Please paste links below to where relevant communities have been notified of your proposal, and to any other relevant community discussions. Need notification tips?
Endorsements
editDo you think this project should be selected for a Project Grant? Please add your name and rationale for endorsing this project below! (Other constructive feedback is welcome on the discussion page).