Wikipedia-AS February 2012

wikipedia-as@lists.wikimedia.org

14 participants
22 discussions

Fwd: Improving outreach efforts in India
by Nitika 13 Feb '12

13 Feb '12

Cross posting. Begin forwarded message: > From: Nitika <ntandon(a)wikimedia.org> > Subject: Improving outreach efforts in India > Date: 13 February 2012 5:12:49 PM GMT+05:30 > To: Wikimedia India Community list <wikimediaindia-l(a)lists.wikimedia.org> > > Dear All, > > The following is a post I've put up on the India Program page on meta regarding outreach (Please see:http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:India_Program/Outreach_Programs). Please do comment on the page itself; I'm posting it on this mailing list only to make sure it doesn't slip your attention. > > We have conducted over 13 outreach sessions in the past one month and have many more events scheduled to participate in over the coming weeks. (Please see: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/India_Program/Outreach_Programs/Outreach_Ses…). It's amazing that we're doing so many outreach events all over the country to create awareness about Wikipedia, motivate attendees to learn about editing and training newbies to contribute to Wikipedia in their own special way. > > The single biggest challenge is that we don't know the actual outcome of these efforts in most cases, and the results are weak when we have the data. I think most of us agree that outreach can be made to work better. (For example, 2 outreach sessions conducted recently by the Assamese community had about 80 participants, and 8 active editors emerged - which is a hit rate of 10% - which is FANTASTIC!) For most other sessions, the results have been closer to 1-2% or even lower - which is depressing. What makes outreach work? How can outreach work better? Is there anything you need from me? > > Over the past 3 months, I have been working on building a handbook for Outreach (Please see: http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/India_Program/Outreach_Programs/Handbook) where you can get presentation material and tips. Please do go through it and help me build it. > > My post consists of 5 (deliberately) provocative statements on the day of and the days after an outreach session. These are framed with the objective of generating debate and suggestions. > > THE DAY OF > > Hypthesis 1: Don't Shoot the Puppy: Outreach is not being done effectively and we aren't adequately introspecting on what we can do better; instead choosing to lose faith in attendees > > Should we discontinue general introduction sessions completely and just convert everything into Wiki workshops? Every second of volunteer time is precious and we need to make sure that every second is made to count. The good sessions appear to be those where people are actually shown how to edit - rather than just doing a song-and-dance about Wikipedia. > The best sessions are those where people have actual hands-on editing opportunity. Shall we limit the intro session on Wikipedia to just 15 minutes and then spend 45 minute on basic editing, 30 minutes on hand-on editing and leave 30 minutes for Q&A? > Not everyone is a natural presenter and might need help on basic outreach skills. Is there value and interest in a capacity building roadshow where we help existing editors who want to improve their outreach and presentation skills? Is it useful to pair up a good presenter with a not-so-confident presenter when we are doing outreach? > THE DAY AFTER > > Hypothesis #2: Staying in Touch: We assume the job is complete after the outreach session when in fact the journey has only just begun > > Can we gather (basic) information about attendees (e.g., names, usernames & email IDs?) so that we can stay in touch with them after sessions? > Can we get feedback on sessions (duration, level of detail, quality of presenters, etc.?) so that we can all improve? Do we need some sort of CRM solution for this or will something like Google Docs suffice? > How do we get more folks to actually provide their contact details and feedback? Which of the following will get higher response rates: asking for these just before the end, immediately after the end or the day after a session? > Hypothesis #3: Nudge-Nudge: Newbies struggle with the most basic things - including which article to select > > Should we send links to useful wiki pages and tutorial videos where they can read up more about how Wikipedia works and how to edit Wikipedia? Can we leave handouts on basic editing after all sessions? Can we send them links to the actual presentations made at the session. > Can we suggest / elicit potential articles that individual newbies will work on after the workshop? Can we give them individual pointers on what they can do with each article by reviewing them there-and-then during the session? > Can we schedule a follow-up session (even if virtually using google+ hangout) to clarify any doubts about Wikipedia editing or otherwise - maybe 2 weeks after a session? > Hypothesis #4: Loneliness - Newbies feel alone and the only time they sense the community is when their edits get reverted > > Should we not encourage them to join project pages (such as the WP:INDIA) and/or the India mailing list and/or their city/language mailing list to get involved with the community? > Can we involve them in COTM or conduct specific editathons for them? > Can we celebrate their successes and get newbies to talk to other newbies about how they learnt stuff? > Hyptothesis #5: Black Hole: No one has a clue about the actual results of outreach > > Can we regularly monitor number & % of active editors after 1 and 3 months of conducting all events? Can we figure out % of mainspace edits from these newbies after 1 and 3 months? Can this be analysed to provide recommendations on how we can do things better? > Can we actively reach out to those who look like they are struggling? Do we need a CRM tool for something like this? > Is it useful to track and attempt to co-relate age / profession / subject (if student) / sex of participants to figure out what is likely to give greatest results? > I have been working to see how can we overcome these challenges and make our outreach efforts far more effective. I'd love to hear from on the above. Some of you have been actively involved in outreach sessions (attending or conducting or planning) an I'd like to know your thoughts and suggestions which might serve as solutions for this set of very real challenges. > > Thanks > > Nitika > >

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Assamese Wikipedia Booklet
by W Chaipau 09 Feb '12

09 Feb '12

Hi All, The Assamese Wikipedia Booklet can be downloaded from (or flipped through) here: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Assamese_Wikipedia_FAQ_Booklet.pdf Comments? -- Chaipau Wikipedia

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Re: [Wikipedia-AS] Assamese Wikipedia Booklet
by W Chaipau 09 Feb '12

09 Feb '12

2012/2/8 Naveen Francis <naveenpf(a)wikimedia.in> > Hoi, > > Wow !! good to see the Assamese FAQ. > Can I point booklet in page here <http://wiki.wikimedia.in/FAQ_booklet/as>? > > Please do! -- Chaipau Wikipedia

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Delayed mail
by gitartha bordoloi 08 Feb '12

08 Feb '12

I wonder why mailing list discussions are delivered to my email pretty late. eg- I can see a new thread here http://lists.wikimedia.org/pipermail/wikipedia-as/2012-February/000046.html… still I don't find it in my inbox or spam folder. -- *~~ গীতাৰ্থ বৰদলৈ (Gitartha Bordoloi) *

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Adminship issues
by W Chaipau 06 Feb '12

06 Feb '12

Hi AS-Wikipedians, A few recent incidents have shaken our fledgling community like never before. Most of these involved questions on adminship, and the role admins play in a Wikipedia. Therefore, I take this opportunity to point out a few things. First, an admin is not an award or a position of power but a position of responsibility. But all it comes down to is this: an admin is a sweeper. Look at the English Wikipedia article ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators) and the first graphic. As an admin on Assamese Wikipedia I spend most of my time: making sure the Bengali ro has been replaced by the Assamese one and the pipes are replaced by a dari; checking links to articles marked for deletion (and deleting them); correcting mistakes in protected pages when Wikipedians points them out; listening to irate Wikipedians when things don't get fixed fast enough, etc. One might be forgiven if one thought being an admin was glamorous, but really it is more like a sweeper, a plumber, a firefighter etc rolled into one. Admins are at the community's beck and call to render service. And I must admit there is great pleasure in being able to do this. Second, we need to move forward on this. The community has to figure out how best to put the rancour behind and get back to blissful Wikipedia-ing (admins have the power to verbalise nouns in emails---with the permission of the community). We should discuss among ourselves what the powers of an admin should be by setting down a set of policies and procedures. We should also work towards implementing the necessary templates and categories to facilitate these. The place to do this is this: https://as.wikipedia.org/wiki/ৱিকিপিডিয়া:ৰাইজৰ_চ'ৰা https://as.wikipedia.org/wiki/ৱিকিপিডিয়া:ৰাইজৰ_চ'ৰা_(নীতি) While formulating policies we should follow the English Wikipedia examples as much as possible. We should strive for consensus rather than votes which are devisive. Please go through the section on expectations of adminship ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators#Expectations_of_admin…<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Administrators>) which governs the behaviour of admins both within Wikipedia as well as outside. Please read the section on how to engage an admin and how to resolve conflicts. It is better to resolve conflicts quickly than to avoid them and letting them fester. What has happened is painful, yes. But I suspect they are nothing but growing pains. We have done great stuff in recent months, and we should continue doing it. -- Chaipau Wikipedia

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Requests for adminship
by W Chaipau 05 Feb '12

05 Feb '12

Prabhakar, please do not use the Requests for adminship to message me---use my talk page instead. On your talk page I have asked you to change the language of your proposal. -- Chaipau Wikipedia

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Requests for adminships
by W Chaipau 05 Feb '12

05 Feb '12

I have moved the proposal from Amlan's adminship to the rightful place: http://as.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Requests_for_adminship#Amlan_Basumat… Please vote there. -- Chaipau Wikipedia

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Minutes of the First Assamese Wikipedia Meetup Guwahati on 29/01/12
by JyotiPrakash Nath 04 Feb '12

04 Feb '12

Dear all Wikipedians, Here is the Minutes of the First Assamese Wikipedia Meetup Guwahati on 29/01/12 Venue: Conference hall, Computer Science Department, Guwahati University 1. Started at 2:30 Pm, welcome the Wikipedians by organizer Jyoti Prakash Nath 2. Facilitation to Mr. Shiju Alex and the HOD of the Computer Science Department Dr. (Mrs) Anjana Kakati Mahanta with the Assamese Gamosha by Mr. Buljit Borgohain and Mr. Gitartha Bordoloi respectively. 3. On request of Jyoti Prakash Nath Dr. (Mrs) Anjana Kakati Mahanta inaugurated the meeting. She said how she glad to know when she was asked by Mr. Shiju Alex for a place to a meeting of Assamese Wikipedia. She agreed to provide a Projector, a room, furnishers and Internet connection for the meeting. 4. Mr. Prabhakar Sharama Neog, a senior Wikipedian explains his feelings about the Assamese Wikipedia and shares some experience. 5. All the present peoples introduced themselves one by one. 6. Jyoti Prakash Nath explains how to open a new account on the Assamese Wikipedia to the new people that present on that day. One new member Mr. Amrit opens a new account on request for demonstration. 7. A slide show prepared by Mr. Bishnu Saikia was presented by another senior Wikipedian Mr. Gitartha Bordoloi where basically these points are described----- I. What is Wikipedia? II. What is Wiki? III. History of Wikipedia. IV. Indic Wikipedia. V. Present status of Assamese Wikipedia. VI. Sister Projects of Assamese Wikipedia. VII. Assamese Wikisource. VIII. Assamese Wiktionary. IX. Assamese Wikibooks. 8. Shiju Alex speaks about Wikimedia foundation and the Indic Wikipedia. 9. Mr. Amlan Basumatary explains the viewers how to create a page and how to write an article on Assamese Wikipedia. He also explains the Narayam keyboard that available on the website and how to activate it and how one can write Assamese script using the keyboard. 10. A question answer section was held where many new users and present reporters ask questions about Wikipedia. All the queries are answered by Mr. Gitarth Bordoloi, Mr. Prabhakar Sharma Neog, Mr.Shiju Alex and Mr. Amlan Basumatary. Meanwhile all the guests were served with tea and Assamese breakfast Tillpitha, Narikolor Ladu, Tilor Ladu, Sirar Ladu etc. 11. End of the meeting declared by Jyoti Prakash Nath. Regards JyotiPrakash Nath SSL-Guwahati +919864917706

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Latin vs Assamese numerals.
by W Chaipau 03 Feb '12

03 Feb '12

Hi Wikipedians, I think in the past there was an effort to change the Latin numerals to Assamese one, and the effort kind of stalled. We are trying once more to change the Latin numerals to Assamese ones. Look here for the bug report: https://bugzilla.wikimedia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=34174 If you go down the list of comments you will see links to the Bengali Wikipedia, where this number change has been implemented. If there is a change in AS Wikipedia, templates and other special pages might get affected. So please do keep a look out. Also, I would encourage all to follow the bug report. -- Chaipau Wikipedia

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Minutes Tezpur Wikipedia Meet up Assam.
by Dipankar Chetia 03 Feb '12

03 Feb '12

2nd Assamese Wikipedia Meet Up [1] (1st Tezpur Wikipedia Meet Up) Venue: Seminar Hall, Computer Science Dept. Tezpur University, Tezpur, Assam 1st February, 2011, 11 am ------------------------- * The Meet Up begun from 11.30 a.m., all the attendants (Wikipedians and Non Wikipedians) were welcomed by co-convenor Dipankar Chetia. * Wikimedia Consultant for Indic Initiatives Shiju Alex and CS Departmental Head of Tezpur University Utpal Sarma were felicitated by Phulam Gamosha, Xorudoya Japi and Xorai. * This was followed by the introduction session of all the attendants; it was observed that most of them are new to Wikipedia or to Assamese Unicode writing. There were almost 12 active and semi active (and non-active) were present in the Meet up. Total attendant were 78. * After that the Assamese Wikipedia FAQ booklets were distributed among the participants. * Then CS Departmental Head of Tezpur University Utpal Sarma gave a short lecture on Importance of Assamese writing over internet and expanding Assamese Wikipedia. * Then Dipankar Chetia presented a presentation on different Wikimedia projects and present scenario of Assamese Wikipedia. The presentation also provided a basic introduction of Assamese Wikipedia to the new people. The presentation was prepared by another co-convenor of the Meet up Bishnu Saikia. * This was followed by Shiju Alex's talk on different Indic language Wikipedias. He also presented a small Statistical ppt on Indic wikis. * In the small workshop session (for the new users) Bishnu Saikia helps the new users to find out how to add new topics to As. Wikipedia, how to modify an existing article and hot to use basic tools for formatting and article. * "Unicode Assamese writing and tool's for this purpose" such topics were then described by Pallab Pran Goswami (Editor of Assamese online Magazine Nila Chorai) to the participants. 10. Then from the other participants Dwijen Mahanta and editor of online magazine Pankaj Jyoti Mahanta also shares their thoughts regarding different aspects of Assamese Wikipedia. In the Meet Up it was decided that the active Wikipedians of this region will soon form a Wikipedia (voluntary) group and Shiju Alex also suggested that. They also decided to organise this type of Meet ups outside the University and College Campuses so that more and more common people can join such events. 11. Main session ended here with Tea and Snacks. 12. After the main session some interested participants learned about wiki templates and some other tools from Bishnu Saikia. Then it was finally concluded. -- Dipankar Chetia http://www.dipankarchetia.in [2] Links: ------ [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup/Assam/Tezpur [2] http://www.dipankarchetia.in

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Wikipedia-AS February 2012