Hi All (cross-posting to make sure I reach as much of India as possible),
As you're aware, we had invited applications for Campus Ambassadors for the upcoming Pune Pilot of the India Campus Program.
The response has been fantastic: we've received ~500 applications/enquiries from across India, ~70 of which were from Pune. This has been really heartening - indicating the desire of many to support the Wikimedia movement. It's also been overwhelming because we need to process all the applications, respond to applicants, etc.!
I think, most critically, it also presents an amazing opportunity for us to introduce new people to Wikimedia projects (especially Wikipedia) - and invite them to join the community. I've interviewed quite a few and there is a recurring theme I hear from many of them. It goes something like, "I've been using Wikipedia for years and years, and I love it. I want to contribute back to it - but I wasn't sure how. Then I saw the banner and decided this was a great way to help." The overwhelming common trait I have noticed in the applicants is that they are bright, well-intentioned and eager to contribute.
Here are some thoughts I had, and I'd love to hear your suggestions/comments on these.
We should respond to every single applicant, and even to those who didn't actually apply but sent emails enquiries (such as "When is the program coming to my city?", etc.) No one should be left behind.
We will prioritise (in terms of sequence of events) the Pune Campus Ambassadors. We need to have a reasonable number available for a training session that we need to conduct before the start of the program. Of the 70 who applied from Pune, we should hopefully get 20-30 Campus Ambassadors.
The important suggestion I had for everyone else (in Pune and beyond) is that we do not "reject" anyone. While some might not become Campus Ambassadors because we don't plan to run the program in their towns/cities right now, or some in Pune might not currently have the desired experience (in teaching and people management), there is no reason that they can't participate in some other roles. Therefore, I don't think we should send any "reject letters" to anyone. No one should be left behind. Instead, we should send them options on how they can participate/learn more about participating. For example:-
i) they could form student clubs in their respective educational establishments
ii) they could form Wikipedia clubs in their workplaces/social groups (as a number of applicants are working professionals, and no longer on campus)
iii) they could become individual editors
For us to try and help realise their potential, here are some thoughts I had:-
i) Invite all the applicants/enquirers to attend the next community meet-ups. This was a suggestion shared by the Pune community. This would give them a chance to interact with the community and understand more about the movement/projects.
ii) Additionally, those who have not been selected as Campus Ambassadors can be reassured by telling them that they can join an "incubation" program. This was a suggestion shared by the Pune community. This would involve them attending meet-ups, learning how to edit, starting to edit - and being supported and hand-held along the way by existing community members. This would help them if they eventually wish to reapply as Campus Ambassadors. Even if they choose not to, they could easily become individual newbie editors.
iii) Invite all applicants/enquirers in a town/city to attend a full-fledged Wiki Academy. This was a suggestion shared by the Mumbai community. This is currently envisaged as a full day session where they are given insights into the movement & projects, taught how to edit, and actually edit articles.
iv) In towns/cities where a full-fledged Wiki Academy is not viable (e.g. if there aren't enough numbers of either participants or volunteers/volunteer time to run a Wiki Academy), then an alternative suggestion is to have a smaller group (3-5) of the applicants /enquirers linked up with a community member who can conduct smaller, shorter groups to explain how to edit and hand-hold them as they edit.
I'd really like to hear your views/comments/suggestions on the ideas listed here.
Also, do let me know which of you would like to volunteer either to help conduct Wiki Academies (point (iii) above) or to manage smaller groups of potential newbies (point (iv) above). Also, it'd be great if we could invite them to your next meet-ups at your respective towns/cities (point (i) above).
Another aspect I'd like to get suggestions from you on is how to manage the process of inviting them to these events. We could, for example, share the contacts of these applicants with the respective communities could reach out and invite them. Alternatively, if you wish this to be done for you, that also can be arranged (though it will put some strain on already stretched resources.)
I look forward to hearing from you. (Please note that we have received applicants from every corner of the country - so please don't assume that the applicants are only from Pune or only from large cities or only interested in English Wikipedia. (They are literally from everywhere, and no one should be left behind!)
Kind Regards,
Hisham Mundol
Wikimedia Foundation India Programs
skype: hisham.wikimedia
gtalk: hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
twitter: @mundol
Hi Folks
I am writing to all of you to correct a potential error. As you might be aware, the Wikimedia Foundation has set itself an important objective of supporting the community in India to expand participation. As part of this, India Programs has been set up - and I work for it.
I have put together a plan for India (please see http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_-_India_Programs) - and I had communicated this on the India mailing list. This has generated interest as well as debate and discussion. However, I understand that some of you might not be on that mailing list. I therefore thought I'd correct this by reaching out directly to you and requesting you to have a look at the page and share your comments (on the Talk Page or on this mailing list or directly to me; my contact details are in my signature.) It outines the thinking behind India Programs, key initiatives, milestones, team structure, visit reports, IRC logs, recommendations on office location and some other details. I hope you find it interesting, and I'd love to hear your views / comments / suggestions.
Also, we I have a monthly IRC on India Programs with whoever is interested - on the first Thursday of every month. I'll send out an invite to your mailing list from now on. Do see if you can join in.
I am also going to try and attend as many community meet-ups in as many locations as possible - so I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, as soon as possible. If you would be kind enough to let me know when the next meeting is planned for and on what schedule (e.g. 2nd Saturday, etc.) then I'll work out how to attend asap.
(Do excuse me if you have received this message through other mailing lists, or it's a bit of a duplication if you are already on the India mailing list.)
Thank You.
Warm Regards,
Hisham Mundol
Wikimedia Foundation India Programs
skype: hisham.wikimedia
gtalk: hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
twitter: @mundol
Hello, WikiPuneris,
An important forward is attached below from Mumbai Community asking for
finalisation of dates of WikiConference India 2011.
*Backdrop*
A lot of excited tele conversations & web chat & some emails have occurred
in the last few days. A WikiConference for India is being planned in 2011.
Mumbai community has offered to host it and asked that Pune Wikipedians be
joint partner. A provisional enthusiastic reply has been sent from us to the
Mumbai Wikipedians and they have been told that we will be discussing the
whole issue before the Pune community on 14 May our next meetup date and
then we will intimate you our "official reply". On the face of it, it is a
great idea and a couple of Mumbai Wiikipedians will come over to meet us on
14th to discuss this.
However, time is running short. A Wikiconference in India without Jimbo
Wales is like Pani Puri without the puri, :) Since Jimbo needs to be booked
early - there appear to be other events contesting during that period for
his attendance - the Wikipedia Community in Mumbai and Wikimedians
Foundationeers in India recommend fixing the date as early as possible.
Hence this email.
Ashwin Baindur
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com>
Date: Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 1:16 PM
Subject: RE: WikiConference India 2011
To: Bishakha <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>, ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com
Cc: Kundan <kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com>, Hisham Wikimedia <
hmundol(a)wikimedia.org>, Pradeep <pradeep.mohandas(a)gmail.com>, sudhanwa.com@
gmail.com
Hi Ashwin/Pune Community,
There is a point that needs your urgent attention. We intend to invite Jimmy
Wales for the conference. What are your thoughts on this? If we want to
invite him we need to lock the conference dates ASAP so we can send him an
invite. We understand his diary gets filled several months in advance hence
the urgency.
At Mumbai Meetup IX we discussed *5,6,7 November* *2011* (Saturday Sunday +
Monday (Eid Bank Holiday)) as good dates as the criteria we had was a 3 day
conference during a long weekend so that maximum people can attend. Can you
please let us know if these dates are good with you. Other things can be
discussed when we meet.
Kind Regards,
User:AroundTheGlobe
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:45:55 +0530
Subject: Re: WikiConference India 2011
From: bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com
To: ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com
CC: wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com; kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com;
hmundol(a)wikimedia.org; pradeep.mohandas(a)gmail.com; sudhanwa.com(a)gmail.com
Also another point that needs discussion when you'll meet: what role would
the India chapter play in the proposed conference?
Bishakha
On Tue, Apr 26, 2011 at 10:27 AM, Bishakha Datta <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>wrote:
Dear all,
Just a quick one to say that do finalize the dates for the wikiconference
when you'll meet in Pune - simply because if we do want someone like Jimmy
Wales to attend, we'll have to book him really soon.
I know finalizing venue will take some time...but it would be good to have
dates.
Cheers
Bishakha
On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 6:47 PM, Ashwin Baindur <ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com>wrote:
Oops, (;) (red-faced)
Warm regards,
Ashwin Baindur
------------------------------------------------------
On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 6:25 PM, Ashwin Baindur <ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com>wrote:
Hi everybody,
I have added now Sudhanwa to this chain,
Warm regards,
Ashwin Baindur
------------------------------------------------------
On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 5:59 PM, <wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi Ashwin,
I understand and look forward to the same. Can you please add Sudhanwa to
this string - I do not have the persons email contact.
Kind Regards,
User:AroundTheGlobe
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:36:48 +0530
Subject: Re: WikiConference India 2011
From: ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com
To: wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com
CC: kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com; bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com; hmundol(a)wikimedia.org;
pradeep.mohandas(a)gmail.com
Hi Wheredevelsdare,
That was my personal response but I'm sure the WikiPuneris will respond
positively to the proposal too. The response on behalf of the group will be
posted by Sudhanwa later. Please cc all mails to me to him also.
Warm regards,
Ashwin Baindur
------------------------------------------------------
On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 4:35 PM, <wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
Hi Ashwin,
That was the response we were expecting - positive and enthusiastic! I
understand you are holding a Pune Wikimeet 14 May 2011. Kundan and myself
(possibly with a couple of others) propose to come up there to discuss the
intricacies of co-hosting such a nationwide event. Would it be possible for
you to put this item in the agenda and keep requisite time for discussions?
We will thereafter have a Meetup in Mumbai on 21 May 2011 to take things
forward from our end.
Kind Regards,
User:AroundTheGlobe
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 23 Apr 2011 16:07:30 +0530
Subject: Re: WikiConference India 2011
From: ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com
To: kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com
CC: wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com; bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com;
hmundol(a)wikimedia.org; pradeep.mohandas(a)gmail.com
Hi Kundan,
You bet! Looking forward to a great WikiConference!
Warm regards,
Ashwin Baindur
------------------------------------------------------
On Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 2:31 PM, Kundan Amitabh <kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com>wrote:
Hi Ashwin!
Please refer to preceding email. We r looking forward active participations
of yours and entire Pune Wikimedians.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com>
Date: 23-Apr-2011 2:22 PM
Subject: WikiConference India 2011
To: <gautam(a)prathambooks.org>
Cc: "Kundan" <kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com>, "Pradeep" <
pradeep.mohandas(a)gmail.com>, "Hisham" <hisham.mundol(a)gmail.com>, "Bishakha"
<bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>
Hi Gautam,
You may recollect a recent string on the India list regarding instituting an
annual WikiConference in India. The subject was discussed with much
enthusiasm at the WikiMeet in Mumbai today - the result of which the
community in Mumbai has decided to take the initiative and send invites to
the community across India for such a conference.
It was thought best that we involve the Pune community - since they are
relatively close to us geographically and the fact that they are a small but
budding community. We plan to hold it in the Hill Station of Lonavala,
between Mumbai and Pune on 5,6,7 November 2011 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday -
Eid Bank Holiday). This may change when we look at the logistics ofcourse.
Just keeping you in the loop and look forward to the Chapter supporting us
in this initiative.
Kind Regards,
Pranav (User:AroundTheGlobe)
Hi
I visited Pune between April 20-22 as part of a preliminary visit for the India Campus Program - Pune Pilot. Thank you to everyone who help with their time, inputs and sharing contacts for me to meet. I'm really grateful.
I've updated my visit report at Pune Pilot Visit Report: Planning: Preliminary Visit: April 20-22, 2011
Do have a look at it. I've tried to capture the many inputs I got in as concise and actionable a manner as possible. I'd really appreciate any comments you might have.
Many thanks
Hisham Mundol
Wikimedia Foundation India Programs
skype: hisham.wikimedia
gtalk: hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
twitter: @mundol
Interestingly a slightly negative story on Wikipedia in India after a long
time.
There's some pretty impressive mistakes and assertions in this article
(copied below), in particular:
* "Many of us have also been tricked by faulty or falsified information on
Wikipedia, which is edited by users who are often tempted into leading
others astray."
* "Originally, Wikipedia allowed anyone to update its entries" ... "In 2009,
it was forced to recruit 20,000 editors to stop falsification of entries."
*Pune Mirror : " Will Google Maps lead people astray, the Wikipedia way?"*
http://www.punemirror.in/article/26/20110423201104240122415581039affe/Will-…
*With the launch of the new Map Maker application in the US, Google Maps can
be edited by anybody, putting a question mark on the reliability of its
content*
*
*
*New York: Almost all of us have been tricked by a faulty GPS into taking a
wrong turn, driving down a dead end road, in extreme cases even driving into
rivers or to the edge of cliffs. Many of us have also been tricked by faulty
or falsified information on Wikipedia, which is edited by users who are
often tempted into leading others astray. *
*
*
*Now, Google is set to combine both dangers into one with the launch of Map
Maker in the US, reports Daily Mail. Map Maker is a web-based application
that allows users to edit Google Maps using their own local knowledge of an
area. It takes advantage of crowd-sourcing to map the parts *
*of the world that even Google can’t get to. *
*
*
*Crowd outsourcing*
*
*
*“You know your neighbourhood or hometown best,” Google Map Maker tech lead
Lalitesh Katragadda and product manager Manik Gupta said in a blog post.
“With Google Map Maker, you can ensure the places you care about are richly
represented on the map. For example, you can fix the name of your local
pizza parlour, or add a description of your favourite book store.” *
*
*
*Users are also encouraged to add bike lanes, walking paths, secret
shortcuts, parking lots, and any other details they can think of using Map
Maker. *
*
*
*
*
*The suggestions are set to be reviewed before being published. “After
approval, the edits will appear in Google Maps within minutes — dramatically
speeding up the time it takes for online maps to reflect the often-changing
physical world,” the blog post read.*
*
*
*Wikipedia controversies*
*
*
*Originally, Wikipedia allowed anyone to update its entries. But a series of
malicious incidents — including changes to George W Bush’s page that saw it
having to be corrected an incredible 40,000 times, and an entry giving
former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s middle name as ‘Whoop de doo’ —
soon forced the site to rethink its policy.In 2009, it was forced to recruit
20,000 editors to stop falsification of entries. *
*
*
*Review of changes*
*
*
*Map Maker, perhaps learning from that lesson, is set to review changes
before they are published. How exactly the changes will be reviewed,
however, remains largely undefined. When MailOnline tested the app, changes
appeared to be subject to review by other users.*
*
*
*It was not clear how many users were needed to approve or deny a change
before it was published, but Google promises that changes will appear
‘within minutes’. A request for more detail on the vetting process has not
yet been answered. *
*
*
*Already up and running*
*
*
*Map Maker is already running in 183 countries around the world. Despite
concerns, it is being hailed as a cartographical revolution, allowing some
of the world’s remotest places to be mapped in a medium available to the
masses for the very first time. *
*
*
*It also allows for a level of detail — for example, of college campuses —
that simply would not be available on conventional maps. “Map Maker users
have mapped entire cities, road networks and universities that were never
previously recorded online,” the blog post bragged.*
*
*
*“These contributions have been incorporated into Google Maps and Google
Earth, so the collective expertise of the Map Maker community benefits the
millions of people using these products globally.”*
*Those who have Google Earth can also watch mapping in real time by others
around the world using the application. *
Regards
Tinu Cherian
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kundan Amitabh <kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Apr 23, 2011 at 2:31 PM
Subject: Fwd: WikiConference India 2011
To: Ashwin Baindur <ashwin.baindur(a)gmail.com>
Cc: "wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com" <wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com>, Bishakha
Datta <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>, Hisham Mundol <hmundol(a)wikimedia.org>,
Pradeep Mohandas <pradeep.mohandas(a)gmail.com>
Hi Ashwin!
Please refer to preceding email. We r looking forward active participations
of yours and entire Pune Wikimedians.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com>
Date: 23-Apr-2011 2:22 PM
Subject: WikiConference India 2011
To: <gautam(a)prathambooks.org>
Cc: "Kundan" <kundanamitabh(a)gmail.com>, "Pradeep" <
pradeep.mohandas(a)gmail.com>, "Hisham" <hisham.mundol(a)gmail.com>, "Bishakha"
<bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>
Hi Gautam,
You may recollect a recent string on the India list regarding instituting an
annual WikiConference in India. The subject was discussed with much
enthusiasm at the WikiMeet in Mumbai today - the result of which the
community in Mumbai has decided to take the initiative and send invites to
the community across India for such a conference.
It was thought best that we involve the Pune community - since they are
relatively close to us geographically and the fact that they are a small but
budding community. We plan to hold it in the Hill Station of Lonavala,
between Mumbai and Pune on 5,6,7 November 2011 (Saturday, Sunday, Monday -
Eid Bank Holiday). This may change when we look at the logistics ofcourse.
Just keeping you in the loop and look forward to the Chapter supporting us
in this initiative.
Kind Regards,
Pranav (User:AroundTheGlobe)
*Pune Mirror : "Now, you can be a Wikipedia ambassador!"*
http://www.punemirror.in/article/2/2011041920110419010247416d981c068/Now-yo…
*
*
*If you have a passion for dispensing information without desiring any
remuneration, possess the ability to motivate and excite others and want to
be a part of the world’s largest online encyclopaedia, then you are probably
in the right city.*
*
*
*Next week, a Wikipedia team will be in town to launch their Campus
Ambassador Programme, and they’re inviting interested individuals to be
contributors and editors for the well known information commons. *
*
*
*The objective of the web-based encyclopaedia in launching their countrywide
programme is mainly to enhance the presence of local content on their
website.*
*
*
*The programme launch is being announced on the main Wikipedia page as well
as on a dedicated page created for this purpose. Hisham Mundol, consultant
to the Wikimedia Foundation, India, told Pune Mirror, “Pune is India’s
education capital and the city has more than two lakh students, which
include not only local one, but those from cities all over the country –
which is why Wikipedia will be starting the programme from here.”*
*
*
*Mundol also said that he will be arriving in the city this Wednesday to
meet the various groups who will be supporting this programme. According to
Wikipedia, its ‘Campus Ambassadors’ are students, staff, faculty, and local
residents who provide face-to-face Wikipedia training and support on
campuses, particularly in classes where teachers are interested in
incorporating Wikipedia-editing into the curriculum.*
*
*
*Campus Ambassadors do in-class presentations that introduce students to
Wikipedia-editing, run labs and workshops on the technical and cultural
aspects of the phenomenon, and in general offer in-person mentorship to
students. They also lead outreach efforts on college and university campuses
to spread the word and recruit additional teachers, professors and
ambassadors.*
*
*
*Harshad Gune, deputy director, Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and
Research (SICSR) said, “The city is full of educational institutes and
students from all over the country. Likewise, Pune is the centre of
enthusiastic IT professionals and their activities. Therefore, Wikimedia is
launching this programme here.”*
*
*
*Wikipedia says they are starting this programme in India and planning a
large-scale, high-impact pilot in Pune. This has been planned across all
colleges and universities in the Pune municipal area. A distinction of the
India Campus Programme is that it is not going to be focused on any one
academic subject area, but will endeavour to cover as wide a range of
subjects as possible.*
*
*
*Applications are specifically sought for the post of Campus Ambassadors not
only from those in India but outside Pune as well. People are welcome to
attend training sessions that the Wikimedia Foundation will be conducting in
Pune.*
Regards
Tinu Cherian
http://wikimedia.in/wiki/In_the_news#April_2011
Great idea!
I suggest that in parallel with planning for a real-life all-India meetups,
we also start doing Skype audio (or other platform a/v) conferences. They
can be planned similar to the city meetups, with participants putting in
their skype id's and the meeting's organizer placing the group call.
We can keep a google/other shared doc open in parallel where we can all
write in as the conference progresses, hence co-creating documentation
during the meeting itself instead of burdening one person after. Google docs
has an added benefit of automatically opening a chat window on the right
pane so that can serve as a backup in case anybody drops out of skype or the
skype call crashes.
In our seminar in NERIST, we had people from elsewhere in the world coming
on Skype and giving presentations. Here, we had to scroll through the
presentation while the wikipedian dictated; I've recently found a better way
to do it : Zipcast on slideshare : here the presentation is in control of
the person giving it and everybody else watches on slideshare website
without having to download anything. That also has group chat feature. And
free of course. (There are also other solutions that give screen-sharing but
they need to be downloaded; and in Skype, screen-share isn't possible for 2+
way conferences last time I checked plus it's a live stream so badder
quality whereas slideshare is browser-based vector flash)
Another potential I see with web conferences : We can have an edit party
co-create an article on google docs (here it's all live and you can see the
other person's cursor inputting stuff real-time), and then one person can
copy-paste the whole thing to wikipedia once we're ready. This way we can
avoid latency periods and edit conflicts in an edit party, and involve a
much larger number of people in. And you'll have to attend one to see how
much fun it is, with multiple cursors moving all around the place! ;)
Of course, I'm zero on content suggestions - just suggesting methods with
which we can work together and do something more productive than just a
meeting, using the web and bridging the distances that divide us.
(I'm going to be out on coming weekends else I would have pitched for a
particular date for a pilot conference! And apologies for completely missing
the Pune meetup, guys!)
Cheers,
Nikhil Sheth
+91-966-583-1250
Pune, India
Teach For India <http://www.teachforindia.org/> Fellow, 2011-13
www.nikhilsheth.tk
Find me on: Twitter <http://twitter.com/nikhiljs> |
Facebook<http://www.facebook.com/nikjs>|
LinkedIn <http://in.linkedin.com/in/nikhiljs> | Google
<http://www.google.com/profiles/nikhil.js>|
RangDe<http://www.rangde.org/investor/nikhilsheth>| Youtube
<http://www.youtube.com/user/nikjs>
Join me on: Pune Documentary
Club<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=138497769525636>| Let's
Do it Pune <http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lets-do-it-Pune/103857326346659> |
Toastmasters in
Pune<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toastmasters-in-Pune/148767611833746>|
Wikipedia
For Schools project<http://education.wikia.com/wiki/Wikipedia_For_Schools_Offline_Edition>
On Wed, Apr 13, 2011 at 6:32 PM, Bishakha Datta <bishakhadatta(a)gmail.com>wrote:
> Love the idea and hope it happens,
> Bishakha
>
> On Mon, Apr 11, 2011 at 3:10 PM, <wheredevelsdare(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I think it might be a good time to start an annual WikiConference in India
>> on the lines of what Wikimedia UK has (
>> http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiConference_UK_2011). We are starting
>> afresh, talks on a setup are still progressing and the future beholds. It
>> will be a wonderful opportunity for all of us to put a face to names as well
>> as to interact with each other and pave the way forward for Wikimedia in
>> India. Any thoughts?
>>
>> Regards,
>> User:AroundTheGlobe
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list
>> Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
>> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimediaindia-l mailing list
> Wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org
> https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediaindia-l
>
>
Today's meet saw different participation from last time. For the record we
had with us :
* The usual suspects - Sudhanwa Jogalekar, Harshad Gune & Ashwin Baindur
* Budding editor - Arnav Sonara
* Newbies - Sudeep Ghiya & Saurabh Agrawal
* Editors returning back to Wikipedia after a long hiatus - Vijay Kudal &
Sohel Bohra
* Distinguished attendee - Dr Radha Misra, Professor, SNDT Womens College,
Pune
* Proxy - Manjusha Joshi representing her daughter Shravani (user:Shravanisj
on en:WP)
The meet started with a short welcome and introductory session. All were
informed of the activities being done/planned for Pune Wikipedians -
* Editing English & Marathi Wikipedias.
* Efforts for Commons (sadly not taking off)
* Forthcoming GLAM initiative.
* Software development efforts at SICSR.
* Campus Ambassador program.
Mandar Kulkarni spoke about his motivation to edit in Marathi and why this
is such a worthwhile and important activity. Mandar regularly features a
Marathi article in WikiPuneri. He is the author of more than 600 articles on
Wikipedia.
The highpoint of the evening was a Skype call with Hisham Mundol. Hisham
outlined the Campus Ambassador program and explained that Pune was chosen as
the location of the pilot project of the Campus Ambassador scheme. The
reasons for choosing Pune included, among others, large number of
educational institutions, cosmopolitan student body and established
Wikipedia user community. The lessons learnt here would be useful for the
next stage when the movement would be moved.
In the discussion which followed a number of points were made -
* The vacations are due so Hisham/the program needs to move fast. Hisham
said he's coming to Pune next week.
* The number of active editors in Pune may not suffice keeping in mind the
scope of the pilot. Hisham plans to call for campus ambassadors country-wide
and involve people who are not yet Wikipedians but interested in
participating.
* There is a need to approach those in authority in all educational
institutions so that the followup will be seen by all as sanctioned by
authority and therefore moreachievable.
* In Maharashtra, college students need to undergo 100 hours of computer
training/involvement which is not syllabus driven. This provides scope for
Wikipedia to get involved.
* Getting the experiences of Mozilla ambassadors and others in Red Hat etc
who have been invoilved in outreach programs will be useful.
* Hisham requested that we should meetup with as many contacts as possible
when he is in Pune and is open to the idea of Skype talks and cold calls to
heads of institutions.
Those who had come to the meetup for the first tme were then asked as to how
we could help them or how they could help us. The last activity was an
editting session for the newbies in which a new concept was tried out. The
first two exercises of a newly prepared worksheet for learning editting in
Wikipedia :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:AshLin/Academy
Next monthly meetup is on 14 May 2011. Meeting when Hisham is here will be
intimated by Sudhanwa.
Au revoir, Ashwin Baindur
Forwarding Hisham's mail to the Pune list. Also read the URLs given in
my mail below.
-Sudhanwa
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Hisham Mundol <hmundol(a)wikimedia.org>
Date: Fri, Apr 8, 2011 at 12:30 PM
Subject: Re: [Wikimediaindia-l] Wikipedia:Meetup /Pune12 on Saturday 9
April 2011, 6:00 pm @ SICSR
To: Wikimedia India Community list <wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org>
Cc: mr-wiki <mr-wiki(a)yahoogroups.com>
Hi Sudhanwa
I would love to be able to attend this but had planned to be in Pune
next weekend (as was proposed in the IRC meeting last evening.) Is
there any chance I could skype in tomorrow? ...and meet you folks in
person next weekend? (I did have a few things I wanted to convey on
the campus program and the proposal for the Pune pilot, and i'd love
to be able to address any queries, etc. - and take on board
suggestions.)
Many thanks.
Hisham Mundol
India Programs - Wikimedia Foundation
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_-_India_Programs
skype: hisham.wikimedia
gtalk: hmundol(a)wikimedia.org
twitter: @mundol
On Apr 8, 2011, at 2:02 AM, Sudhanwa Jogalekar wrote:
Hi,
This is a confirmation of the Wikipedia meetup Pune12 on Saturday 9
April 2011, 6:00 pm @ SICSR.
We will be discussing about the "Wikipedia campus ambassador" project.
Read this for reference :
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_-_India_Programs#Campus…
And also this :
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_-_India_Programs/IRC_me…
Do join in.
Best regards,
-Sudhanwa