I dunno, I think for newbie editors it might be nice to let them edit what excites them during an edit-a-thon - especially if the turn-out is on the small side. Creates more ownership?

I've done the following experiment with brand new editors: picked a benign article that a new editor was passionate about (we chose hotels) and added a few sentences. The newbie was excited to see his work in the established article, and even more so when the edit was QUICKLY patrolled and removed (no citations) as I warned it would be (no citations).

The patroller also added a note to the newbie's talk page, which we replied to during the class. We visited the patroller's pages and learned about his interests and editing history (his page had his name, no gender-judgment intended) .... and the newbie spent the rest of the class checking his own talk page to see if the patroller had replied! Connection established.

This experiment serves as a useful argument against comments like "Wikipedia is badly sourced/written/etc" because the time between posting the edit and the patroller deleting it provides evidence that Wikipedia is closely monitored for sourcing/vandalism/etc.

Slightly off topic, but useful I hope. Yes, it is tough being the only Wikipedian in the 'hood....be bold and do your own edit-a-thon!

What are 10 things Librarians should know about Wikipedia in order to help their patrons become better consumers (and perhaps editors)? Compiling a list that will turn into a course on https://p2pu.org/en/  - joiners needed!

(PS "newbie" always used with affection)

Cheers,

Bettina

On Tue, Jun 18, 2013 at 8:00 AM, <libraries-request@lists.wikimedia.org> wrote:
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Today's Topics:

   1. Re: Wikipedia classes in the Public Library setting
      (Derric Atzrott)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:08:12 -0400
From: "Derric Atzrott" <datzrott@alizeepathology.com>
To: "'Wikimedia & Libraries'" <libraries@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: Re: [libraries] Wikipedia classes in the Public Library
        setting
Message-ID: <033a01ce6b6c$7cbc5380$7634fa80$@alizeepathology.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"

>We also do small group instruction and even co-editing--we have been able to

>maintain at least a ratio of 1 experienced Wikipedia editor to 4 inexperienced

>participants,   and usually better.  My advice is that if editing is planned,

>you need at least a 1:4 ratio, and if possible 1:2.  Also, 2 participants to a

>computer is possible, but 1:1 is better. It is also very advisable to have

>topics in mind suitable for beginners., though some will have their own ideas.



How does co-editing work?  And do you think that it is possible for one person

to pull of managing an edit-a-thon?  I've been thinking about holding one at my

local library and actually subscribed to this mailing list hoping a thread

like this would come up.  As far as I can tell, I'm the only Wikipedian in the

general area (haven't met any others at least, and I organzied the Wiknic for

my area last year).



For topics I was thinking local historical items that have poor coverage on

Wikipedia; I see you recommend recent deaths.  Do you have any other topic

recommendations to make to participants?



Thank you,

Derric Atzrott

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