Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-09 Thread HJ Mitchell 
This is basically what we've been doing with the Girl Geeks. I'd be more than 
happy to help out. If possible, it would be good to put it in a location that's 
easiest to get to for most of the 'customers'. Or perhaps holding several and 
making sure we're nice and geographically diverse.

Harry 



 From: Richard Symonds 
To: wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org 
Sent: Friday, 9 December 2011, 19:27
Subject: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year
 

All,
 
There’s been an awful lot of fundraiser emails coming in from donors who are 
asking about how to edit. The following statements aren’t direct quotes – I’ve 
reworded them for privacy’s sake, but they’re ‘based on a true story’ and 
indicative of the sort of emails we’re getting:
Some of the emails are very keen:
    “ I know how to use a computer, and was wondering if I could 
proof read for you!”
    “I can’t donate each month, but maybe I can help you run the 
Wikipedia? ”
Some are confused about policies:
    “I’m afraid that if I edit about X, I’ll contravene the second 
and third pillars, but I’m not sure about the fifth pillar…”
Some are just confused about editing:
    “How do I edit a page? This is all very difficult”
One or two are genuinely thrilled at the idea of being able to edit:
    “I would love to be part of a thing as amazing as this – my 
generation would never have dreamt of something as wonderful as wiki. I think 
Wikipedia is great, and I’d really like you to teach me how I can be a part of 
it”
 
Rather than point them straight at some tutorial page on Wikipedia (which may 
not be helpful), or at OTRS (which tends to be a hit hit-and-miss) I am hoping 
we can run a ‘learn to edit’ session, advertised to those donors who have 
expressed an interest, at some point in the new year. It’d be aimed at complete 
beginners, and probably somewhere with a dense population, like Manchester, 
Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff, London etc. Potentially there 
would be businesswomen, elderly war veterans, foreign students all at the same 
event: we’d try to target it as much as possible, but that might not be easily 
possible.
 
Is there anyone who’d be interested in running this, or helping out at it?
 
All the best,
 
 
Richard Symonds
Office Manager
Wikimedia UK
+44 7885 764 613
 
--
Wikimedia UK is the operating name of Wiki UK Limited, a Company Limited by 
Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Our 
Registered Charity No. is 1144513. The Registered Office is 4th Floor, 
Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. 
Wikimedia UK is the local chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate 
Wikipedia, amongst other projects). It is an independent non-profit 
organization with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its 
contents.
 
Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk
 
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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-09 Thread James Forrester 
On 9 December 2011 19:36, HJ Mitchell  wrote:
> This is basically what we've been doing with the Girl Geeks. I'd be more
> than happy to help out. If possible, it would be good to put it in a
> location that's easiest to get to for most of the 'customers'. Or perhaps
> holding several and making sure we're nice and geographically diverse.

This sounds like a great idea. I'd love to help out running a few of
these in the South-East/London; might be sensible to get a rough feel
of distribution to work out how many (and how widespread) we'd want
them to be...

J.
-- 
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jdforres...@wikimedia.org | jdforres...@gmail.com
[[Wikipedia:User:Jdforrester|James F.]]

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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-09 Thread Charles Matthews 
On 9 December 2011 20:08, James Forrester  wrote:

>
> This sounds like a great idea. I'd love to help out running a few of
> these in the South-East/London; might be sensible to get a rough feel
> of distribution to work out how many (and how widespread) we'd want
> them to be...
>
>
Central London - the WMUK office - has suitable bookable space in the
basement, and Jon Davies thought it might be quite easy to get it on
weekends. Just a thought.

Charles
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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-09 Thread HJ Mitchell 
My experience of running similar events for WMUK is that if it has WiFi and 
chairs, we can make it work. A basement could work well if it meets those two 
criteria.

Harry 



 From: Charles Matthews 
To: wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org 
Sent: Friday, 9 December 2011, 22:10
Subject: Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year
 

On 9 December 2011 20:08, James Forrester  wrote:


>This sounds like a great idea. I'd love to help out running a few of
>these in the South-East/London; might be sensible to get a rough feel
>of distribution to work out how many (and how widespread) we'd want
>them to be...
>
>

Central London - the WMUK office - has suitable bookable space in the basement, 
and Jon Davies thought it might be quite easy to get it on weekends. Just a 
thought.

Charles
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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-09 Thread Thomas Morton 
Count me in; love teaching :-)

Tom Morton

On 9 Dec 2011, at 22:14, HJ Mitchell  wrote:

My experience of running similar events for WMUK is that if it has WiFi and
chairs, we can make it work. A basement could work well if it meets those
two criteria.

Harry

  --
*From:* Charles Matthews 
*To:* wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org
*Sent:* Friday, 9 December 2011, 22:10
*Subject:* Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

On 9 December 2011 20:08, James Forrester  wrote:


This sounds like a great idea. I'd love to help out running a few of
these in the South-East/London; might be sensible to get a rough feel
of distribution to work out how many (and how widespread) we'd want
them to be...


Central London - the WMUK office - has suitable bookable space in the
basement, and Jon Davies thought it might be quite easy to get it on
weekends. Just a thought.

Charles

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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-09 Thread Charles Matthews 
On 9 December 2011 22:14, HJ Mitchell  wrote:

> My experience of running similar events for WMUK is that if it has WiFi
> and chairs, we can make it work. A basement could work well if it meets
> those two criteria.
>
>
> I've seen the chairs; wifi is hearsay.

Charles
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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-10 Thread WereSpielChequers 
I'm in, but please not a basement. I have mobile broadband and if I
remember to bring it the WiFi will work and it won't be needed.

But mobile broadband abhors basements.

WSC

On 9 December 2011 22:28, Charles Matthews
wrote:

>
>
> On 9 December 2011 22:14, HJ Mitchell  wrote:
>
>> My experience of running similar events for WMUK is that if it has WiFi
>> and chairs, we can make it work. A basement could work well if it meets
>> those two criteria.
>>
>>
>> I've seen the chairs; wifi is hearsay.
>
> Charles
>
> ___
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>
>
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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-10 Thread Stephen Gardner 
Richard,

 

I am doing a part time course at the University of Reading, maybe we could
run a course on the campus?

 

Plenty of interested parties at the University and in the town I would
think.

 

Stephen Gardner

(Philafrenzy)

 

From: wikimediauk-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org
[mailto:wikimediauk-l-boun...@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Richard
Symonds
Sent: 09 December 2011 19:27
To: wikimediauk-l@lists.wikimedia.org
Subject: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

 

All,

 

There's been an awful lot of fundraiser emails coming in from donors who are
asking about how to edit. The following statements aren't direct quotes -
I've reworded them for privacy's sake, but they're 'based on a true story'
and indicative of the sort of emails we're getting:

Some of the emails are very keen:

" I know how to use a computer, and was wondering if I could
proof read for you!"

"I can't donate each month, but maybe I can help you run the
Wikipedia? "

Some are confused about policies:

"I'm afraid that if I edit about X, I'll contravene the
second and third pillars, but I'm not sure about the fifth pillar."

Some are just confused about editing:

"How do I edit a page? This is all very difficult"

One or two are genuinely thrilled at the idea of being able to edit:

"I would love to be part of a thing as amazing as this - my
generation would never have dreamt of something as wonderful as wiki. I
think Wikipedia is great, and I'd really like you to teach me how I can be a
part of it"

 

Rather than point them straight at some tutorial page on Wikipedia (which
may not be helpful), or at OTRS (which tends to be a hit hit-and-miss) I am
hoping we can run a 'learn to edit' session, advertised to those donors who
have expressed an interest, at some point in the new year. It'd be aimed at
complete beginners, and probably somewhere with a dense population, like
Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cardiff, London etc.
Potentially there would be businesswomen, elderly war veterans, foreign
students all at the same event: we'd try to target it as much as possible,
but that might not be easily possible.

 

Is there anyone who'd be interested in running this, or helping out at it?

 

All the best,

 

 

Richard Symonds

Office Manager

Wikimedia UK

+44 7885 764 613

 

--

Wikimedia UK is the operating name of Wiki UK Limited, a Company Limited by
Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Our
Registered Charity No. is 1144513. The Registered Office is 4th Floor,
Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. 

Wikimedia UK is the local chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate
Wikipedia, amongst other projects). It is an independent non-profit
organization with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its
contents.

 

Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk

 

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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-10 Thread Fae 
On 10 December 2011 11:18, WereSpielChequers
 wrote:
> I'm in, but please not a basement. I have mobile broadband and if I remember
> to bring it the WiFi will work and it won't be needed.
>
> But mobile broadband abhors basements.
>
> WSC

To clarify the "basement" at the Old Street offices is a very nice
space with modern business quality meeting rooms and a social
sitting/breakout area with vending machines. There is wifi as well as
RJ11 points for broadband (good for Skype?) in the meeting rooms and
screens to project on for a shared discussion. There are 3 meeting
rooms and 2 can be joined to hold 24 people comfortably.

The space is free and we have the benefit of 4 office desks and an
equipped kitchen upstairs (with wifi available and a nice view if
anyone *really* can't stand being in the basement or is desperate to
use their mobile; not sure if a mobile signal works in the basement or
not).

Please email Richard as per this email if you would like him to
confirm any further layout or technical details.

Cheers,
Fae

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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-12 Thread Chris Keating 
I was talking to Gordon Joly and Philafrenzy about this at the Wikimeet and
I think the collective feeling was that contact before and after an editing
session is important as well as the event itself.

I can certainly think of events where lots of people have turned up, but
none of the new wannabe Wikipedians has gone on to contribute after the
event - perhaps this could be improved by some friendly emails afterwards
offering to continue the help offered on the day.

I think we're definitely learning more about how we do these things, and
hopefully these events - whatever form they end up taking - will continue
that.

Chris
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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-12 Thread Roger Bamkin 
Suggest the first session might fulfil three needs

1. Get some people trained (ie see above) as a trial to see what skills
they need.
2. Get these people started and get them some buddies. The U.S. Campus
ambassadors have a virtual help room where people can ask for help
3. Work out how this expands ... because it is going to and we will quickly
run out of helpers and organisers if we don't make it scale (I can hear a
voice saying "train the trainers")

4. OK lets not foget 1.

Roger

On 12 December 2011 22:44, Chris Keating  wrote:

> I was talking to Gordon Joly and Philafrenzy about this at the Wikimeet
> and I think the collective feeling was that contact before and after an
> editing session is important as well as the event itself.
>
> I can certainly think of events where lots of people have turned up, but
> none of the new wannabe Wikipedians has gone on to contribute after the
> event - perhaps this could be improved by some friendly emails afterwards
> offering to continue the help offered on the day.
>
> I think we're definitely learning more about how we do these things, and
> hopefully these events - whatever form they end up taking - will continue
> that.
>
> Chris
>
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>


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Re: [Wikimediauk-l] Editing sessions in the new year

2011-12-13 Thread Gordon Joly 
On 12/12/2011 22:44, Chris Keating wrote:
> I was talking to Gordon Joly and Philafrenzy about this at the 
> Wikimeet and I think the collective feeling was that contact before 
> and after an editing session is important as well as the event itself.
>
> I can certainly think of events where lots of people have turned up, 
> but none of the new wannabe Wikipedians has gone on to contribute 
> after the event - perhaps this could be improved by some friendly 
> emails afterwards offering to continue the help offered on the day.
>
> I think we're definitely learning more about how we do these things, 
> and hopefully these events - whatever form they end up taking - will 
> continue that.
>
> Chris

Yes, we should be a little more formal. Assess skills (and requirements) 
before the event, and get proper feedback on the session, and then a few 
weeks later.

Also, stick to a standard package to be delivered (they already exist?). 
As I mentioned on Sunday, I spent four two hour sessions with a local 
community group (a few years back) teaching very basic wiki skills. I 
had installed Mediawiki, with a view to using it as a blog, website and 
later a community archive.

Note: we did not go anywhere near Wikipedia. I was training them in 
editing skills alone, using Mediawiki. A few years before that (ten 
years ago?) we had used TWiki for another project in the same community. 
Hence, we did not cover the standards and procedures Wikipedia (e.g. The 
Five Pillars).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TWiki

Gordo

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gordon.j...@pobox.com
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