Wikimedia Diversity Conference 2013/Documentation/design diversity

Session: Ilona Buchem and Netha Hussain // Design Diversity

Abstract

In this workshop, the participants will engage in designing concepts for actions targeted towards fostering diversity in Wikipedia. These actions can be interactive formats, networks, events, learning resources, research and projects of any kind. "Design as enquiry" will be used as a method to inspire innovative solutions. "Design" is meant here a epistemic activity which provides insights into the situation to be changed. Participants will work in small groups and use a variety of materials including pictures, objects, blocks etc. to build and visualise ideas.

Starting point / Insights

• Design diversity
• Identifying underrepresented groups, developing ideas & projects for

Challenges

Group shares and talkes about underrepresented groups. Everyone says what she or he does and gives an example for her/his engagement about diversity. How do you promote diversity? what is your approach?

Interests with diversity approach:

• Expert talks (sharing)
• History edit-a-thons and QRpedia
• Involve women & minor linguistic groups
• Interest graphs
• Write success stories
• Better software to help people & new editors
• Training for beginners
• Facilitate kindness & encourage people
• New ways to contribute and reduce negative impact
• Gender sensitive languange in the own environment, in the office
• Obstacles which prevent newbies
• Coordinate teahouse in german wikipedia
• Making editing fun mentoring
• Friendly approach mentoring newbies on thunderbird
• Facilitating girls to contribute to wikimedia
• Open seminars about access to education
• British black music&african british history month

underrepresented groups:

• Disabilities
  • People with “mental illnesses”
  • Blind people

• Language&geography
  • Small language speakers
  • People with non-european background
  • Immigrants

• Professions&education
  • Working class
  • Teachers
  • Craftsmen
  • Doctors & medicine students
  • Social history experts
  • People lacking technical knowledge
  • Female politicians

• Gender
  • Women
  • Transgender people

• Age
  • Elderly people
  • Teenagers (13-18)

The group organizes itself on a fictive line in the room, representing the consent on the sentence: "Wikipedia is not a welcoming space for minorities". Mixed perceptions. Different approaches how to work on the problem