Nice...:)
Deepon
On Sun, Dec 18, 2011 at 10:25 PM, Nitika <ntandon(a)wikimedia.org> wrote:
Hi Srikanth & everyone else,
This is a really good question and one that I've been thinking about and
working on as we look at outreach in general.
From my discussions with various editors and my observing and
participating in outreach sessions, I think the biggest challenge when we
do outreach is "why to contribute". Of course, "how to edit" is
essential
- but unless someone believes there is a strong enough reason to
participate, it's unlikely they're going to get involved or stay involved
after a couple of exploratory edits. From my conversations and readings,
the motivators of existing editors are any or a combination (or variants)
of "promoting free knowledge" or "sharing knowledge in general" or
"improving education" or "passion for their languages" or
"interest in a
particular subject (e.g. astronomy or railways or butterflies.) However,
my opinion is that it is relatively complex to convey these in an initial
outreach session. It's best to motivate and train and support potential
newbies to join the movement and community - and allow them to discover for
themselves what is the inspiration for them (especially because it is
likely to be unique to that individual.)
Personally, i think there are a number of really compelling answers to the
"What's in it for me?" question - and I do want to share my take on it.
I'm dividing my answer into students and faculty/institutions. (The tone
I'm using is what can be used when actually answering the question.) These
answers are a little clinical and conceptual but I've found they work - and
I believe they will provide an adequate incentive to try and learn a little
bit more about editing and to hopefully become regular editors.
* Academia - Students*
1. It improves your *writing skills*. Writing skills are essential
when you move ahead in life either to do further studies or to work. Our
education system (unfortunately) doesn't adequately teach writing skills
and we all struggle when we have to write a formal report or research
paper. When you move into the working world, you'll find that you can be
as good as you are at your work but unless you are able to write those
written reports properly, you'll always find it hard to succeed.
2. It will help your *critical thinking*. Concepts like Neutral Point
of View (which you will sometimes see in Wikipedia being referred to as
NPOV) help you see all sides of a story. In your future careers, you need
to consider the pros and cons of anything - because only that way will you
be a better professional. If you're into software, look at the article on
waterfall development model and how it looks at pros and cons. If you're
in economics, look at the article on the Euro bailout and see how it looks
at all the multiple complex issues involved. Very little in life is purely
good or totally evil; we need to be neutral and consider all sides. You
will find this incredibly useful in both your personal and professional
lives. This thinking will help you decide who to vote for in elections or
which version of Lok Pal you support or which IPL team to follow! This
thinking will help you understand your subjects even better.
3. It'll strengthen your *research skills.* Editing a wikipedia
article requires you to do a lot of referencing (or what wikipedia
sometimes calls "citations".) This means you need to look beyond just the
wikipedia article and research online references and also go into that
forgotten room called the library and look up books or journal. This is a
skill you cannot live without if you are writing a thesis or working on a
research project.
4. It teaches you how to *collaborate*! Editing wikipedia is
magical. You add some content and someone from some other part of the
class or school or town or country or somewhere else in the world adds a
little bit more and makes your contribution that much better. The days of
sitting alone under a tree and having an apple fall on your head and
discovering gravity are over. In today's world, we will need to
collaborate to achieve anything. If you're into biotechnology, you might
be based in Hyderabad but the team you are part of might have someone in
Scotland or Brazil- from a different culture and with a different accent -
but you need to work together. Wikipedia helps you learn how to
collaborate!
5. It gives you a *global audience of - literally, thousands! * If you
submit a class report, the maximum audience is 2; 1 being you and 1 being
your teacher. After your paper is marked, it will normally be thrown
away. If you edit a wikipedia article, it is there *forever* and the
audience can be any number from the 500 million who read wikipedia every
month! You can show your article to you mother and grandfather and
friends! If you upload pictures to Wikimedia Commons, you will have an
audience so much bigger than the 500 friends on Facebook who will see it.
So many more can see your talents and appreciate your work!
6. It'll boost your chances in admissions or scholarships or *
placements*. Imagine if you are a mechanical engineer and you are one
of 100 students in your batch applying for jobs with the best engineering
companies who come to campus. Everyone is likely to submit a resume saying
they are the greatest engineer ever born - but it's difficult for any one
to stand out and shine. If you were to put a line in your resume that you
have edited 5 articles on heating and cooling systems, there is a very high
probability that this would jump out at the recruitment team of the
companies and the will actually read your article (if they haven't already.)
7. It can be *so much fun*! You can make new friends - from all over
the world.. You can write about subjects that you are interested in
(whether it is movies or your hometown or sarees or mythology or cricket
or whatever!) It think it is really important that we drive this message as
passionately as we can because this is something that can resonate so loud
and for so long!
* Academia - Faculty & Education Institutions*
1. Students with all the above result in much more motivated classes.
One thing that teachers constantly say is that they one thing they want is
*engaged students.* I've had teachers tell me that if they are in a
class and they see their students involved and trying to learn and active,
it is the best thing that can happen to them - and the rest of their day
goes well!
2. It improves your individual and college's *academic reputation*.
In the Indian context where there is relatively lower emphasis on academic
research papers by faculty members, supporting your students on Wikipedia
articles helps you (rightfully) claim that you contributed to these
articles. That increases your academic standing and helps attract better
students and faculty and partnerships and recruiting companies.
3. It supports the advancement of *education* - for students in your
class and colleges and around the world. You have devoted your lives to
education and this is a great way of promoting it.
I wanted to share my perspectives because I really believe that the "why"
needs to be addressed.
Thanks for starting a great message thread, Srikanth.
Nitika
On 18-Dec-2011, at 1:37 AM, Srikanth Ramakrishnan wrote:
Subha, most of those bullies are editors with zero constructive edits
or IP based vandals. Sadly.
Erik, yes, I consider Giving to Wiki as giving back to Society. Thanks
for the links. Time to read during my month long Wiki break.
Ravi, Bala told me that physical outreach programs had very poor
success rates. I concur with him.
Prad, I agree. That's how Manish and I became friends. But still
doesn't explain how to get new guys.
--
Regards,
Srikanth Ramakrishnan.
Wikipedia Coimbatore Meetup on December 10th.
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetup/Coimbatore
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