Editing Wikipedia: Why You Should and How You Can Support Your Users

transcript

Presentation by Brian Kelly, UKOLN on 25 October 2012 for an Open Access Week event at the University of Exeter

Talk by Brian Kelly, Cetis on 15 May 2014 at the CILIP Wales conference

Editing Wikipedia: Why You Should and How You Can Support

Your Users

Event hashtag: #cilipw14

Editing Wikipedia: Why You Should and How You Can Support

Your UsersBrian KellyInnovation AdvocateCetisUniversity of BoltonBolton, UK

Contact DetailsEmail: ukwebfocus@gmail.comTwitter: @briankellyCetis Web site: http://www.cetis.ac.uk/Blog: http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/

Slides and further information available athttp://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/events/cilip-wales-2014-editing-wikipedia/

Event hashtag: #cilipw14

About MeBrian Kelly:

• Innovation Advocate at Cetis, University of Bolton

• Was UK Web Focus at UKOLN, University of Bath• Prolific blogger (1,250+ posts since Nov 2006)• User of various devices to support professional

activities (Open Educational Practices)Involvement in Wikipedia and Wikimedia UK:

• Created first article in 2004• Involved in Wikipedia training and Edit-a-thons

since 2013• Accredited Wikipedia trainer• Regard Wikipedia as an example of an Open

Educational Practice

You are free to:copy, share, adapt, or re-mix;

photograph, film, or broadcast;

blog, live-blog, or post video of

this presentation provided that:You attribute the work to its author and respect the rights and licences associated with its components.

Idea from Cameron Neylon

Slide Concept by Cameron Neylon, who has waived all copyright and related or neighbouring rights. This slide only CCZero.Social Media Icons adapted with permission from originals by Christopher Ross. Original images are available under GPL at:http://www.thisismyurl.com/free-downloads/15-free-speech-bubble-icons-for-popular-websites

Source cited!

About YouWho has:

• Has a Wikipedia account?• Has edited Wikipedia

articles?Who would:

• Like to create an account?

• Create a user profile?• Perhaps even update an

article?Feel free to do this during this talk!

Can this figure be updated?

About YouWho has:

• Has a Wikipedia account?• Has edited Wikipedia

articles?Who would:

• Like to create an account?

• Create a user profile?• Perhaps even update an

article?Feel free to do this during this talk!

Click here from any Wikipedia page

Is Wikipedia Relevant?Who has:

• Used Wikipedia?• Spotted errors in Wikipedia?• Updated Wikipedia?

Wikipedia in the library - the elephant in the (reading) room? Nancy Graham and Andrew Gray, LILAC 2014

Is Wikipedia Relevant?Who has:

• Used Wikipedia?• Spotted errors in Wikipedia?• Updated Wikipedia?

Wikipedia in the library - the elephant in the (reading) room? Nancy Graham and Andrew Gray, LILAC 2014

Why Wikipedia is ImportantFrom Wikimedia UK

https://wiki.wikimedia.org.uk/wiki/Expert_outreach

Top Tips

No. 1: Understand why Wikipedia is important to librarians

Eduwiki (UK) 2013Eduwiki conference:

• Held in Cardiff on 1-2 Dec 2013

• Second EduWiki UK conference

Covered:• Welsh language issues• Case studies from higher

education and schools• Broader considerations

Two Case Studies Summary of two case studies presented at EduWiki 2013:

• Safe Use of Wikipedia in the Transition from School to University, Lisa Anderson and Nancy Graham, University of Birmingham (now Roehampton)

• Introducing Students to Independent Research through Editing Wikipedia Articles on English Villages, Humphrey Southall, University of Portsmouth

Outreach work by University of Birmingham Library

• Demonstrate information literacy approaches to school pupils

• Students surprised that Wikipedia was shown

Introducing Students to Independent Research through Editing Wikipedia Articles on English Villages

This was the assignment (see “Telling the stories of rural England with Wikipedia” )

Humphrey Southall at EduWiki conference

Notice how Neutral Point of View principle was addressed

Example of article chosen for updating by student

Article after updating

Students learn about researching and citations

Top Tips

No. 2: Understand how Wikipedia is being used in education

Wikipedia Behind the Article

Who has looked at the information about a Wikipedia article?

Wikipedia Behind the Article

We can see the history of the development of an article (contributors, update dates; …)

Top Tips

No. 3: Gain a better understanding of the Wikipedia service

Be Willing to Update Wikipedia Articles

You:• Spot an error in a

Wikipedia article

Be Willing to Update Wikipedia Articles

You:• Spot an error in a

Wikipedia article• Identify an area for

improvement

As an information professional wouldn’t you wish to ensure that such information is accurate? (Especially if this can be done in minutes!)

Will need updating in 2014

Top Tips

No. 4: Be willing to update Wikipedia articles

Why You Should Have a Wikipedia Account

Using a Wikipedia account to edit articles is recommended:

• Openness• Record of

contributionsAbility to:

• Create new articles

• Join in discussions

• Have customised preferences

• …

Creating an Account Feel feel to:

• Go to a Wikipedia pageand click Create Account

• Then complete the form

A: New users

Did you do it in less than a minute?

Top Tips

No. 5: Create a Wikipedia account

Create a User Profile

Nancy Graham’s user profile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Msnancygraham

User: msnancygraham

Use search box as a quick way to find user profiles

Create a User Profile

Nancy Graham’s user profile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Msnancygraham

User: msnancygraham

Today’s Goal : Create a User Profile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Lawsonstu

Top Tips

No. 6: Create a Wikipedia profile

Be Ethical! Quality of Wikipedia articles is provided by volunteer effortPlease do not:

• Introduce errors to see how soon they are corrected

[[Swansea city centre|central Swansea]]

Outreach work by Uni of Birmingham Library

• Demonstrate information literacy approaches to school pupils

• Surprise that Wikipedia was shown

Discussion: “Live edit a Wikipedia entry – highlight how quickly edits are corrected”But should pages be ‘vandalised’ in order to demonstrate how the community fixes such vandalism?Highlighted need to address best practices for those who teach use of Wikipedia.

Top Tips

No. 7: Be ethical

Content Can Change!Changes to the Jalalpur, Bihar arty=icle

Minor edit made

Content Can Change!Changes to the Jalalpur, Bihar arty=icle

This article was proposed for deletion by Lfstevens on 2 May 2014 with the comment:unnotable, uncited stubIt was contested by Necrothesp on 7 May 2014 with the comment:deprod; all settlements are considered to be notable; cleaned up

Top Tips

No. 8: Be prepared for your contributions to be changed

The Five PillarsFundamental principles by which the Wikimedia community operates...Wikipedia:

1. is an encyclopedia2. is written from a neutral point of view3. is free content that anyone can

edit / use/ modify / share4. editors should respect each other5. does not have any firm rules

Key Principles for Content (1)No original researchAll research must come from published sources e.g.

• Peer-reviewed journals • Peer-reviewed books• University-level textbooks• Magazines, journals and books published by

respected publishing houses• Mainstream newspapers

Key Principles for Content (2)Neutral Point of ViewContent should be provided from a neutral point of view:

• If your viewpoint is in the majority, then it should be easy to substantiate it with reference to commonly accepted reference texts;

• If your viewpoint is held by a significant minority, then it should be easy to name prominent adherents;

• If your viewpoint is held by an extremely small minority, then — whether it's true or not, whether you can prove it or not — it doesn't belong in Wikipedia, except perhaps in some ancillary article.

Top Tips

No. 9: Understand the Wikipedia principles

Supporting Others

About a training course – see http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/events/lilac-2014-getting-to-grips-with-wikipedia/

Supporting OthersApproaches to the following aspects:

• Registration• Creating a Wikipedia profile• Editing existing articles• Creating new articles• What can go wrong?• Conforming with Wikipedia principles• Useful resources• Question time and discussion

Structure of a one-hour hands-on session

Structure of WorkshopStructure of hour-long session:

• About the session• Creating an account: 1 slide.

Now login and do it! (not needed for some, so some moved on to next part, creating or editing user profile based on existing profiles)

gCase study 1:

Basic editing

Change examples to relevant profiles (e.g. for sessions for librarians)

See http://www.slideshare.net/lisbk/wikipedia-training-the-trainer-34540111

Structure of WorkshopStructure of hour-long session:

• About the session • Creating an account• Creating a user profile: 4 slides

Now create a profile using plain text

Structure of WorkshopStructure of hour-long session

• About the session • Creating an account• Creating a user profile• Wikimedia syntax

(formatting, headings and links): 1 slideNow improve your profile; feel free to reuse ideas for profiles we’ve shown. Slide left on screen during exercise.

gCase study 1:

Basic editing

Structure of WorkshopStructure of hour-long session

• About the session • Creating an account• Creating a user profile• Wikimedia syntax (formatting,

headings and links)• Next steps (adding metadata and

finding pages to be improved): 4 slides

Top Tips

No. 10: Support others (and feel free to reuse existing materials)

Don’t Forget WicipediaDon’t Forget Wicipedia Cymraeg (the Welsh Wicipedia): http://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defnyddiwr:Llywelyn2000

Learning from OthersExample of contributors to Wikipedia Wales

Top Tips

No. 11: Don’t forget Wicipedia!

Conclusions 1. Understand why Wikipedia is important to

librarians2. Understand how Wikipedia is being used3. Gain a better understanding of the Wikipedia

service4. Be willing to update Wikipedia articles5. Create a Wikipedia account6. Create a Wikipedia profile7. Be ethical8. Be prepared for your contributions to be changed9. Understand the Wikipedia principles10.Support others (and feel free to reuse existing

materials) 11.Don’t forget Wicipedia!

ANY QUESTIONS?

Cartoon

Questions?Any questions, comments, …?

Continue the discussion: blog post about this presentation linked in http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/events/cilip-wales-2014-editing-wikipedia/

This presentation, “Editing Wikipedia: Why You Should and How You Can Support Your Users” by Brian Kelly, Cetis is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 LicenceNote the licence covers most of the text in this presentation. Quotations may have other licence conditions. Images may have other licence conditions. Where possible links are provided to the source of images so that licence conditions can be found.

Slides and further information available athttp://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/events/cilip-wales-2014-editing-wikipedia/

Licence and Additional Resources