Hausa Wikimedians User Group/2030 Strategy planning research 2023/Final report/Literature Review

Wikimedia communities are a global network of volunteers who collaborate to create and share free knowledge on the Wikimedia projects, including Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, and Wikidata. These projects are built on the principles of open access and free knowledge, and they rely on the contributions of volunteers to grow and thrive (Kolbitsch & Maurer, 2006). Wikimedia communities play an important role in knowledge creation and dissemination, providing a platform for individuals to share their expertise and contribute to a global body of knowledge. Challenges and barriers hindering skills and leadership development within Hausa Wikimedia communities Despite the importance of Wikimedia communities, there are several challenges and barriers hindering skills and leadership development within these communities. Adukaite (2018) argues that one of the major challenges facing Wikimedia communities is the lack of formal training and education programs for volunteers. This makes it difficult for volunteers to develop their skills and take on leadership roles within the community. Additionally, Al-Khalifa (2014) notes that language barriers can also hinder skills development, particularly for volunteers who are not fluent in the dominant language of the community. Needs and priorities of volunteer contributors in terms of leadership and skills development Understanding the needs and priorities of volunteer contributors is essential for addressing the challenges and barriers to skills and leadership development within Wikimedia communities. Flöck, Acosta, and Puppe (2019) found that many new contributors are motivated to join Wikimedia communities because of their interest in a particular topic or because they want to contribute to a public good. However, they also found that volunteers often face difficulties in navigating the complex social dynamics of the community, which can hinder their ability to develop their skills and take on leadership roles. There are several policies, guidelines, and best practices that can inform efforts to address the challenges and barriers to skills and leadership development within Wikimedia communities. The Wikimedia Foundation, which oversees the Wikimedia projects, has developed several programs and initiatives aimed at supporting volunteer contributors. For example, the Wikimedia Foundation's Community Resources team provides training and support to volunteers, and the Wikimedia Foundation's Grants program provides funding for community-led projects and initiatives (Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.). The Wikimedia Foundation has also developed a Universal Code of Conduct (UCoC) to ensure that Wikimedia communities are welcoming and inclusive, and to provide a framework for addressing conflicts and issues within the community (Wikimedia Foundation, 2021). How Wikimedia communities can match peers, facilitate teaching and learning, and recognize volunteer contributions? To address the challenges and barriers to skills and leadership development within Wikimedia communities, it is important to consider how these communities can better match peers, facilitate teaching and learning, and recognize volunteer contributions. Hargittai and Shaw (2019) argue that providing more structured training and mentorship programs can help volunteers develop their skills and take on leadership roles within the community. Menking and Erickson (2019) suggest that Wikimedia communities can also benefit from more decentralized leadership structures, which allow for greater participation and decision-making by volunteers. Additionally, Mollick (2014) notes that recognizing volunteer contributions through badges, awards, or other forms of public recognition can help incentivize continued participation and foster a sense of community among volunteers. The literature reviewed highlights the importance of Wikimedia communities as a platform for knowledge creation and dissemination, but also points to several challenges and barriers hindering skills and leadership development within these communities. To address these challenges, it is important to understand the needs and priorities of volunteer contributors and to consider how Wikimedia communities can better match peers, facilitate teaching and learning, and recognize volunteer.

Notes edit

1.^ Kolbitsch, J., & Maurer, H. (2006). The transformation of the Web: How emerging communities shape the information we consume. Journal of Universal Computer Science, 12(2), 187-213.

2.^ Adukaite, A. (2018). Wikimedia and education: Opportunities and challenges. Information Development, 34(3), 203-208.

3.^ Al-Khalifa, H. S. (2014). Wikipedia and Arabic: Critical perspectives. Journal of Documentation, 70(4), 633-647.

4.^ Flöck, F., Acosta, M., & Puppe, F. (2019). The motivations and activities of Wikipedia editors—An exploratory study of new contributors. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 70(7), 676-688.

5.^ Wikimedia Foundation. (n.d.). Community Resources. Retrieved from Community Resources

6.^ Wikimedia Foundation. (2021). Code of Conduct. Retrieved from Umiversal Code of Conduct (UCoC)

7.^ Hargittai, E., & Shaw, A. (2019). Mind the skills gap: The role of Internet know-how and gender in differentiated contributions to Wikipedia. Information, Communication & Society, 22(1), 48-62.

8.^ Menking, A., & Erickson, I. (2019). Leadership and volunteer engagement in Wikimedia communities. In Proceedings of the 2019 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-12).

9.^ Mollick, E. (2014). The dynamics of crowdfunding: An exploratory study. Journal of Business Venturing, 29(1), 1-16.

Read more →