WM ZA/SWIP 2023

This is an outline of the proposed 3 day Wikipedia training workshop that Wikimedia South Africa will be conducting in partnership with SADiLaR for the twelve month period from July 1, 2023 to June 31, 2024. Wikimedia South Africa has already secured funding for at least 4 such workshops to be done at Universities across South Africa with additional funding provided by SADiLaR to increase the number of Universities.

It is proposed that each workshop will last 3 days and will be conducted by a veteran Wikipedia editor provided by Wikimedia South Africa. The primary focus of these workshops is to cultivate the growth of Wikipedia in as many different South African language versions of Wikipedia as possible. To this end the program will focus on introducing new highly motivated people to editing Wikipedia in their languages with the intention that they will spread the training to others within their language and university communities.

Before each workshop all participants will have created an account for themselves on Wikipedia. This will allow them to participate in the training and will allow Wikimedia South Africa to track their progress after the training. Before and during the workshops participants are encouraged to think about what their passions are (language, hobbies, interests, topics they want to share with the world) so they have something in mind they want to write about or learn more about. This will help them in the training.

Standard programme

The 3 day program will be broken up in the following way:


	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Main focus	Introduction to Wikipedia	Advanced Wiki editing	Train the trainer
Main exercise	1Lib1Ref (add citations)	Add content & photographs	This is how to pass on what you have learnt
Presentation	5 pillars of Wikipedia, Q&A	NA	Train the trainer, Discussions + Q&A
Notes	Extensive discussions and introduction into the culture of editing Wikipedia and its rules. Learn to use the translation tool to create their first Wikipedia article in their langauge.	If there is time we will also teach how to create new Wikipedia articles in English and upload images to Commons. Cover copyright issues and reliable references.	Will also give participants a chance to continue with editing Wikipedia from previous day and might teach how to add other features like Infoboxes or discuss copyright and digital commons related issues.
Workshop length	8 hours	7 hours	6 hours
Example picture

It is very important that lunch be served at each workshop and that a relaxed, fun environment is cultivated so as to encourage community building and enthusiasm. To this end it is strongly suggested that participants be encouraged to edit on topics that they feel most passionately about. Wikipedia is a passion driven project.

The lesson plan for this event can be seen here.

Ideal participant

Enthusiasm; this is the most important quality we look for in trainees. Anyone can edit Wikipedia and everyone is encouraged to do so. However some people are more likely to edit than others and by far the most important factor is enthusiasm.

However some people tend to have an easier time learning to edit Wikipedia than others. In our experience these people include university students, librarians, people involved in STEM professions (especially Computer Scientists), academics and members of the general public that have a very strong passion about a particular subject (such as trains/planes, a language, a particular period of history, a field of science like climate change, a particular country or place, and so on). The best type of candidate is typically (but not always) extremely passionate about a particular subject, really wants to share knowledge about it with the world, is open to learning something new, and has some free time (after or even during work) to write about it as an unpaid volunteer.

Timetable

Past workshops

22-23 February 2024: Walter Sisulu University - Coaches: Michael Graaf
8-9 March 2024: University of Mpumalanga - Coaches: Bobby Shabangu
26-27 March 2024: Cape Peninsula University of Technology - Coaches: Jeremiah Pietersen, Jan (Leftcentreright), Michael Graaf, Itumeleng Mpofu
3-4 April 2024: University of Zululand - Coaches: Bobby Shabangu, Michael Graaf, Derrick Moore
10-11 April 2024: University of Venda - Coaches: Bobby Shabangu, Derrick Moore, Matete Lesele, Mohau Monaledi
23-24 April 2024: Vaal University of Technology
2-3 May 2024: Tshwane University of Technology
9-10 May 2024: University of South Africa

Future workshops

If you are a qualifying Wiki Coach and want to join or run a future workshop then please let WMZA know by contacting herschal.jackson wikimedia.org.za

19-20 June 2024: Central University of Technology
17-18 July 2024: Sol Plaatje University