2024:Program/Universities and Wikimedia: Increasing Participation through Student-Run Efforts
Session title: Universities and Wikimedia: Increasing Participation through Student-Run Efforts
- Session type: Lecture
- Track: Education
- Language: en
Universities, as institutions whose goals are to further knowledge, are a natural place to look when seeking new partnerships for the Wikimedia movement. They have access to vast resources, in terms of both libraries and people, which can help the Wikimedia movement’s goal of opening access to knowledge. More can be done to leverage this potential to its full extent, especially by expanding the scope of student-run efforts. This session will go into what developing student Wikimedia communities at universities can provide, some of the challenges faced in trying to build them, and strategies for long-term success.
Description
[edit | edit source]The goal of this session is to argue for and provide a roadmap for developing future student-run Wikimedia communities at universities.
It begins by detailing what universities can offer to Wikimedia. Universities house a wealth of resources, including rare books and access to various sources that can significantly enhance the content on Wikimedia projects. For example, the University of Rochester possesses an extensive collection of rare books ranging from medieval manuscripts to documents related to recent local elected officials. Such collections can be digitized and added to Wikimedia Commons and Wikisource, enriching the available resources. Furthermore, universities have the capability to release certain copyrighted materials under a free license, broadening the scope of accessible information. They also provide technological resources, such as camera rentals and scanners, alongside the expertise of writing tutors and research librarians.
Next, I discuss what students currently do that are relevant skills for contributing to Wikimedia projects. Students already do research projects, granting them valuable knowledge and access to sources that could enhance articles on Wikipedia that are currently underdeveloped or lacking in depth. Additionally, students already casually browse Wikipedia, which often serves as a launching point for deeper research, indicating the platform already has broad recognition. Students’ multilingualism, particularly among international students, allows for translating content and making it accessible to a wider audience.
Next, I present case studies of my relevant experiences and what we can learn from them. Wikipedia events held by the University of Rochester Library in 2023 shed light on the challenges of building a community around Wikimedia projects within the university setting. These events were not well-attended, primarily due to inconvenient timing, insufficient advertising, and ineffective campaigning. To foster greater student engagement from such events, they need better advertising strategies, including the use of social media and the involvement of professors to draw students from various departments. Collaborations with student organizations could also amplify outreach efforts. However, to really get the most out of student participation, it should come from the students; once the initial activation energy of getting a community started is overcome, students can form Wikimedia clubs themselves. I discuss my experience with student organizations here, such as when I founded a club at my university, to describe how student organizations interact with the broader campus community and can create sustained communities.
The final section addresses how to maintain continuity over time once efforts get started. There is a risk of student clubs disbanding as founders graduate. Though student-led initiatives can achieve greater success, maintaining links to faculty can still provide stability. Student Wikimedia clubs should participate in conferences as a means to connect individuals with the broader human community behind Wikimedia, reinforcing the sense of belonging and commitment among participants. Also, if student Wikimedia clubs get big enough they could host their own events and bring other university students in the region to their campus.
Session recording: https://www.youtube.com/live/wLgxZTcjhjY?si=f7EA2tAjA-Pi95rx&t=4326
- How does your session relate to the event theme, Collaboration of the Open?
The session relates to collaboration through its emphasis on increasing participation from more constituent parts of universities, particularly students, by building more communities. It also relates to the open because it relates to using said participation to expand the scope of free knowledge, since putting university knowledge on to a more open platform such as Wikimedia expands inclusivity of knowledge to more than just those with the means to be admitted to universities with incredible knowledge bases.
- What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?
Everyone can participate in this session
Resources
[edit | edit source]- https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/10oSvRjoe-Ed7MN1v_Vn13uQgkpNKhZnAEq--7JoxNHw/edit?usp=sharing
Speakers
[edit | edit source]- William Bothe
- I have been involved with Wikimedia projects since 2017, and am mainly active on the English Wikipedia and English Wikisource. I have been to several Wikimedia events, and presented a poster at Wikimania 2019.