Rock Drum
Discussions are only just beginning. We hope that Alex Stinson
is going to prove invaluable in introducing the programme here during the
course of 2011. So if you have a suggestion or a contact for a University that
we could introduce Alex to, let us know on this list. We have some preliminary
ideas as to possible universities based on existing contacts we have had, but
the list is open to additions, changes and amendments. So in answer to your
question ‘No, not yet.’
Best
Steve
From: wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org
[mailto:wikimediauk-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Rock
drum
Sent: 25 November 2010 19:27
To: wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Wikipedia Campus Ambassador Program to the
United Kingdom
Hi
Alex,
Just out of interest, have any UK universities been signed up for the program
yet?
Thanks,
Rock drum
Date:
Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:31:07 -0500
From: stinsoad@dukes.jmu.edu
To: wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: [Wikimediauk-l] Wikipedia Campus Ambassador Program to the United
Kingdom
Hello Wikimedia UK,
I
am Alex Stinson (User:Sadads), an American student from James Madison
University (JMU) and a Wikipedia Campus Ambassador (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Ambassadors).
I am also a member of the Wikipedia Ambassador Steering Committee and soon will
be a Wikipedia Campus Ambassador Trainer. I will be studying abroad in Oxford
during the Spring, and look forward to participating in Wikimedia UK
activities. The organization of Wikipedians in the United States (or at least
the greater DC Area) has been rather slow, so I look forward to bringing back
lessons I learn from you to Wikimedia DC.
I
recently approached the board of Wikimedia UK and asked if they would be
interested in starting an Ambassador program in the UK. Realizing that
their will need to be significant effort on the part of myself and volunteers
in Britain, they have given me the go ahead to begin developing the
infrastructure to create an Ambassador program in the UK and begin engaging
universities. The Steering Committee of the Ambassador program decided
very early that it was best that the ambassador program to be run in a regional
approach so that the program could become international and sustainable, I hope
the UK will become our first extra-US Ambassador region.
The
Campus Ambassador Program in the United States has largely been focused on the
Public Policy Initiative and supporting writing projects and assignments in
university classes. However, even in this first semester of the program, we
have already seen the creation of two student organizations as well as course
work in other disciplines (such as literature and chemistry). I also have been
working closely with the library at JMU to begin discussion on how we think of
Wikipedia in Academia through workshops on the topic.
I
realize the approach to academic curriculum may be hard to translate to the UK
university system. However, it is activities such as student organizations and
the workshops in addition to the article writing assignments, which I would
like to bring to the United Kingdom. Like GLAM cooperations, the Wikipedia
Ambassador program has the potential to help a very large community of
academics become more engaged with Wikipedia world wide.
I
have yet to determine the exact schedule of my studies and activities at
Oxford. However, while in the UK I plan to, at the very least, find and engage
members of Wikimedia UK to begin a regional Ambassador program through
Ambassador training and discussions at Wikimedia UK events as well as through
the creation of a student organization at Oxford. If anyone would
be interested in supporting such an Ambassador program, especially if
you are engaged in a University campus, please send me an e-mail and we can
begin figuring out how you can help. This program can only be successful if
local Wikipedians engage and provide creative approaches to the university
environment.
Alex
Stinson
User:Sadads
Wikipedia
Campus Ambassador James Madison University
Wikipedia
Ambassador Steering Committee Member
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