Certificating Training/Brainstorming

Certificating training

History

Wikimedia Italia

Method

References

How to get started

1. we can test simultaneously and independently different approaches (in different places and with different partnerships).
2. we can start a broader discussion about possible approaches (meaning we involve at least 50 people, maybe no more than 150), and then choose a common approach or we go back to option 1 (test simultaneously different approaches).
3. we can start building something as one small team. we propose the concept, we discuss about it, we test it and we discuss about it.

The approach 3 seems at the moment the most feasible.

Who certificates whom

International and portability

• The certification system need to be possible also in countries where there are no Wikimedia chapters.
• A system which is international can be more transversal and more relevant for exchanges, Chapters Dialogue, joint projects or projects supporting communities at an international level...
• Certain knowledge might differ from one country to another (i.e. national laws).
• Knowledge of languages needs to be taken into account.

Who promotes it

• This is a volunteer-driven initiative.
• The community needs to be involved. At least to make sure they like the idea and how it comes out.
• It is important that what we do is not perceived as an imposition, but as something which can respond to a need.
• Wikimedia staff members are involved in the process as other people are. The project is not made by Wikimedia staff members and experimented on the community.

Experts/Outsiders

• Specific expertise is certainly necessary for knowledge and skills which are not related to Wikipedia and the Wikimedia projects (copyright, teaching skills, presentation skills...).
• People who are not part of the movement but have specific expertise should be included in the working team since the beginning. This allows us to better frame what we want to do, and to assure the certification system is credible and not (too) self-referenced.
• Outsiders can guarantee that what we are doing is credible.
• Engage partners and credible international organizations to guarantee the certification system is credible in- and outside the Wikimedia universe.

How to test what

• Challenging enough to be stimulating.
• We want to be sure that someone who actually does have a certificate has a certain set of skills and knowledge.
• It is not necessary to have a certification if you want to speak about Wikipedia.

Knowledge

• Certain knowledge might be focussed on specific nations (i.e. knowledge of national laws).

Skills

Skills can be tested in simulations (i.e. holding a 30 minutes class, or short presentation).

Languages

• The knowledge of a language is part of the skills necessary to address people or activities in specific countries.
• According to the target audience not only national languages might be needed.

Certification for whom

• Proving your expertise to third parties.
• A certification system which is credible in- and outside the Wikimedia universe.

• Certification has an expiring date?
• There is a deontological behavior to be taken into account?

Scope

The idea of creating a certificate system responds to three needs

1. Providing volunteers and professionals who already have competences related to the Wikimedia projects with an acknowledgment. This recognition (certification and badge) can be useful in their work, education career, working career and in their role within the Wikimedia movement.
2. Facilitating the involvement of new volunteers and people in the Wikimedia offline projects, by supporting them with training, mentors, job shadowing and by being able to more easily involving them by acknowledging what they know and how they can contribute.
3. Improving competences of volunteers and professionals who already implement Wikimedia activities and initiatives related to outreach, education, partnerships with GLAMs, and presentations.

The project responds to a demand coming from chapters/groups/affiliates and other institutions (needing skilled volunteers and staff) and from the volunteers (needing training, support or an acknowledgment of their skills).

Methodology

The certification can be made in two ways

1. It can be a sort of Wikimedia barnstar.
2. It can be obtained within the higher education system (basic education courses - bachelors and masters - continuing education). This kind of certification requires of attending a certain number of hours of courses.

We will start by focusing on the sort of Wikimedia barnstar.

What we do NOT do:

• We do not certificate skills and experience related to Wikipedia and other online Wikimedia projects. Our aim is to certificate offline skills or skills specifically related to activities promoted by chapters/groups/affiliates and other institutions.
• Our aim is not to reject people, but to support them in getting the knowledge, experience and skills to implement the activities with a reasonable standard (and to feel they can do more).

Measures of success

• Pilot project. Feedback of the training participants (after the training, and 6 months after the training).
• Pilot project. Feedback of the organizers (after the training) - report
• Results of the certification. Engagement of the people getting the certification in new projects and activities.

The certificating training can be considered a relevant tool if the system is promoted and implemented in further training and educational projects in other cities and countries.