User:Eric1997uw/Report

Throughout this quarter in Communications 482, I learned numerous concepts as well as the basics of Wikipedia contribution. As someone who had never even thought about adding to Wikipedia, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and assess the platform and its functions. The Wikipedia article I focused on was “Valee” who is a hip-hop artist from Chicago, Illinois. This was a stub article with very little information included in it, so it was a good opportunity to use all the Wikipedia basics that were taught, as well as consider the course concepts while carrying out the work on the article. Specifically, course concepts that proved useful to keep in mind were norms and regulations, seeking user help, and intrinsic motivation.

My Wikipedia experience essentially consisted of learning the background and use of the website, understanding the rules and regulations surrounding use and contribution, seeking relevant information from reliable sources, correctly adding non-bias additions to a sandbox, and ultimately implementing those additions into the existing live article and publishing the new changes. There were many takeaways from this experience that helped me develop a new found appreciation for existing Wikipedia editors, as well as for the website itself.

First, the strict guidelines concerning what information is allowed and what information isn’t allowed is encouraging as a Wikipedia user. While it is somewhat frustrating at times when I desperately wanted to include certain information (such as an image) and I was unable to, I now understand and respect the reasons for these guidelines. Another notable takeaway was the necessity for an unbiased approach when editing a Wikipedia article. This point made me think about the luxury that this truly is as a user. I constantly feel bombarded by one-sided information on a number of contemporary issues to the point where I am unsure of what information I can trust and what information I can’t. Contrary to my previous believe of Wikipedia being unreliable because “anyone can edit it”, I now have the peace of mind to know that the articles on Wikipedia that are well written are also reliable, middle of the road information. Lastly, I think an important takeaway is the need for the public to become more involved and make valuable contributions to the website. This website relies on users making additions as well as monitoring new additions and confirming that they are in accordance to the Wikipedia guidelines. Without those individuals who take time out of their lives to make these additions and edits, the website seizes to make value progress and provide new insight that so many of us have taken for granted for so many years. This takeaway motivated me to learn more about the necessary steps that an online community must take in order to maintain users as well as gain new, motivated users. This leads perfectly into the way the previous course concepts link into the experience that I had while editing my Wikipedia article.

First, something that stuck out to me as notable was the norms and regulations that a user is eventually presented with in the process of editing a Wikipedia article. While the steps and guidelines for editing an article aren’t complex, the text-heavy articles related to teaching and enforcing these guidelines looks daunting upon first glance. This was my long-lasting first impression of Wikipedia, being a daunting, intricate, system that only experts should contribute to. This would be where my first piece of advice for the Wikipedia community and Wikipedia Foundation come from. I honestly think a more basic, less cluttered, welcome page that easily instructs one on the basics of editing an article, more users would be encouraged to become more engaged with the website. One of the course concepts learned from the Norms and Regulations week of the course was how a detailed explanation of the communities Norms and Regulations can appear too daunting, and repel users who assume the commitment level is too high and the number of rules are far too restricting.

Second, I was fascinated by motivating users to take part in your community, as this ultimately is the goal of every online community. One thing that struck me as interesting was the strategy to simply ask your users to help you build the community. This led me to develop an idea and advice for the Wikipedia community/foundation. From the concepts, we know that it is best to ask for realistic help, with clear and transparent goals for the community attached. In addition to this, we know that this ask should come from someone notable as well as likeable. '''Therefore, I think the advice for the Wikipedia community/foundation that I have is to ask existing users to add more contributions to articles surrounding articles that they have already edited, and show them how this will help develop that specific area better for the community. I think focusing on a specific area to improve is more practical and more encouraging for a casual contributor.'''

Lastly, I think the foundation of user contribution on Wikipedia is tapping into the intrinsic motivations of a Wikipedia editor. Considering there are no extrinsic motivations for Wikipedia editors (money, points, perks, etc.), the website relies on Wikipedia editors choosing to edit the articles because they enjoy the act itself. Therefore, Wikipedia should make the user experience as good as possible, and make the experience as smooth and as productive as possible for those users who find fulfillment in this activity. '''Based on this, my advice would be to implement encouraging systems to maintain those individuals and encourage them to add more. These systems could include, visible progress markers on additions, and even a modern approach to connecting with other users who also find intrinsic joy in editing a Wikipedia article.'''

This short essay reviews the process of this class and reveals the important concepts and takeaways that come from this experience. I linked the course concepts to my personal Wikipedia experience and as a result I produced advice for the Wikipedia community/Foundation. I am grateful for this experience, and I have a new found appreciation for Wikipedia!