User:Mathieugp/outline

This page outlines a typical day of training and contribution to Wikipedia organized by Fondation Lionel-Groulx (FLG) with one or more partners. Some details are also provided concerning the steps leading to and following the event. This day allows for a group of 10 to 25 people to benefit from a 3 hours training workshop (in the morning) and a 3 hours contribution workshop (in the afternoon) focused on a given theme.

Before the event
Before all, partners involved in the organization of the event must agree on a date and a theme.

Once that is done, the FLG will evaluate the quality of the Wikipedia articles related to the chosen theme using the Wikipedian community's own content assessment system. This step will help the FLG and its partners to propose a list of articles to improve or create in Wikipedia during the afternoon contribution workshop. Participants will naturally be free to choose whatever article they prefer to work on if not inspired by the list.

At least 6 weeks before the event

Launch the registration campaign: all partners work together to recruit participants.

The FLG is equipped to handle registration online through the Web and good old e-mail.

Two weeks prior to the event

Restart the registration campaign. The FLG sends a reminder to those who already registered.

One week prior to the event

The FLG sends a final reminder to all registered participants:


 * date, time, and directions to the event
 * detailed schedule of the day
 * steps to creating a new user account in Wikipedia
 * pre-training resources allowing all registered participants to prepare
 * list of articles to improve or create

During the event
9:15 – 9:45

Reception of participants and opening talks by the representatives of the organizations involved in the event.

9:45 – 12:00

Editing Wikipedia.


 * First part: knowing and understanding the five pillars, and the main policies and guidelines of the Wikipedian community; exploring useful functionalities of the Wikipedia interface: discussion page, history page, watchlist and contribution list, alerts, search bar shortcuts and namespaces (wp, help, portal, category, etc.)
 * Second part: series of practical exercises focused on how to contribute the proper way: switch to edit mode, add or modify text, reference notes, images, templates, etc., in an existing article. Create a draft article and develop its contents following the Manual of Style (title, structure, encyclopedic tone, typography, sources, etc.).

12:00 – 13:30

Lunch break.

13:30 – 16:00

(Distribution of prizes and gifts.)

Contributing to Wikipedia on the chosen theme.

The FLG presents a list of articles to improve or create in Wikipedia. The FLG also suggests concrete and relatively easy tasks for beginners: insert reference notes where they are missing, follow the Manual of Style to improve the article structure, common sections such as "Notes", "References", "See also", "External links", improve the Infobox, add a new section, etc.

For the entire duration of the afternoon, the FLG trainers are available to offer assistance to participants.

After the event
The FLG communicates with participants in order to:


 * measure their level of appreciation of the event and collect their feedback
 * remind them to feel free to contact the FLG trainers directly in Wikipedia or by e-mail if they need help or advise
 * invite them to perfect their training by participating to the "Mardi, c'est Wiki!" workshops in Montréal or the "Jeudi, c'est Wiki!" in Québec City