User talk:Helaine (Wiki Ed)/2015

Getting course coordinator privilege
Hi Helaine, I tried to complete the content on the link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Training/For_educators/Launch_Assignment_Design_Wizard but was unable to due to some php error. My students from Christ University in Bangalore, India are working on some assignments to improve content in educational technology and mathematics apart from other courses. How do I get course coordinator privilege so that I may create a course? Thanks Vikram Vincent 21:31, 31 August 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Vincentvikram (talk • contribs)
 * Can you help determine the best person for this instructor to talk with? Helaine (Wiki Ed) (talk) 22:02, 31 August 2015 (UTC)b


 * Thanks, Helaine, for the ping. I've replied to Vincentvikram on his talk page. Anna Koval (WMF) (talk) 17:53, 2 September 2015 (UTC)

adding an institution and a course
Hi Helaine, I have sent you an email. I started a new job at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, and would like to add this institution and my new course of translation on Wikipedia. I used to teach translation at Durham University (UK) using Wikipedia for two years, but I know that the procedure has now changed by Wikipedia. I used to have instructor's rights, but I no more have them. Can I get them back? The fall term has already started here in Oman this week and wonder if you can help me get started ASAP. Thanks. --Kshehari (talk) 07:33, 7 September 2015 (UTC)

On-ground help for wiki courses
Good morning! Since we've never met, I thought I'd introduce myself. I'm working with these four classes in person:
 * Online Communities
 * Advanced Writing in the Sciences (section 1)
 * Advanced Writing in the Sciences (section 2)
 * Advanced Writing for Environmental Science

And I see that you're also attached to all four. Which is wonderful -- it's great to see so much WikiEd support. So if you see anything in particular that I can help out with, please let me know. And I'm certainly glad these classes have the support from you and other WikiEd staff! AmandaRR123 (talk) 13:58, 14 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks for reaching out. Would you like to be added to the course pages for these classes? Let me know. Helaine (Wiki Ed) (talk) 18:14, 15 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Sure, that would be great. That way they have all the info in one place. Thank you. AmandaRR123 (talk) 18:47, 17 September 2015 (UTC)
 * Ok, I'll go ahead and do that. Helaine (Wiki Ed) (talk) 20:24, 17 September 2015 (UTC)

Mystery of my "enrollment" in the Medical course solved.
I contacted you earlier about why this course appears on "My Courses"
 * Education_Program:University_of_California,_San_Francisco_(UCSF)/Expanding_WikiProject:_Medicine_(Fall_2013)

I recall looking at that page and wondering what would happen if I clicked "Enroll" (just following Be bold). It's no problem if that course stays in "My Courses"; It doesn't bother me and I won't do it again.--Guy vandegrift (talk) 01:22, 24 November 2015 (UTC)
 * I went ahead and removed you from that course. Helaine (Wiki Ed) (talk) 18:09, 24 November 2015 (UTC)

Who is running the course at Ontario Tech?
I cannot find the link to the instructor for this class Wiki Ed/University of Ontario Institute of Technology/CHEM 4041U Advanced Topics in Inorganic Chemistry (Fall 2015). Can you help? I am trying to avert end of semester problems, which are too frequent with WikiEd.--Smokefoot (talk) 13:43, 7 December 2015 (UTC)
 * The instructor is User:Kcsunshine999. You can find this info here. Can you lend some help here with this class? Thanks. Helaine (Wiki Ed) (talk) 17:03, 7 December 2015 (UTC)

Introduction to Astronomy/Spring 2016 -- all is well
All is well. I pinged you on a status report at

User_talk:Ian_(Wiki_Ed)

This should now be an extremely easy course for you to oversee because I reduced the scope down to one article at Draft:Bell's theorem paradox with only about 6 trusted student editors. The other 25 students will be working through Wikiversity, outside the scope of WikiEd--Guy vandegrift (talk) 14:45, 15 December 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks for letting me know. Helaine (Wiki Ed) (talk) 19:15, 15 December 2015 (UTC)

Course problems with Wiki Ed/Vassar College/Hudson Valley Amenity Economy - ENST 291 (Fall 2015)
Reviewing some of the article from this course:, Fishkill Farms and Letterbox Farm Collective read very similar to articles writer for promotional purposes by coi editors. I know that they aren't; rather, so much of the writing which a person encounters in the world about such subjects is promotional, and in particular so many of our articles on organizations of all types have been written improperly by coi editors (usually undeclared paid editors),  that new editors easily fall into this style.

More specifically, the first problem problem is that the articles are based upon either materials from the organization, or articles in local newspapers. Neither of these reliably show notability, because local newspapers are not very selective about what they publish. Second, the articles contain the sort of diffusive non-specicic aspirational content that's used in advertising: a picture of an apple on one of the farms, The intentions of the ownersto make the products as organic as possible. They also include material which would ordinarily be classified as advertising: " Farm offers a pastured bulk sale program to allow customers a supply of poultry throughout the winter months. " and similar details of doing business. If I had not recognized these from tfrom the ducational program, I would have immediately listed both articles for deletion. I will still do so if they are not fixed.

A third article, Ardith Mae Farmstead Goat Cheese, is altogether unsupportable and in my opinion unfixable: every source is unreliable for notability: web site and blogs and publicity organs such as Edible Brooklyn. I seen no alternative but to list it for deletion.

BTW, I am a customer of Fishkill at various NYC greenmarkets, and i read Edible Brooklyn when I am looking for interesting advertisements about my area. But that doesn't make for their value as encyclopedic content. I don't want to disappoint the students, but the point of the ed project is to improve the content of Wikipedia.  DGG ( talk ) 18:34, 17 December 2015 (UTC)
 * Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We will reach out to the instructor to inform them of the situation. Can you have a look at these articles and reach out to the students? Thanks very much. Helaine (Wiki Ed) (talk) 18:43, 17 December 2015 (UTC)
 * I tried to link to the course page, but cannot figure out how to do it. There should be a proper link on the dashboard page.  DGG ( talk ) 19:01, 17 December 2015 (UTC)
 * I fixed the link to the course page. The class was active in article creation for too-short a window; by the time I started looking at their work they were done. I'll make some time to see what's salvageable in the next two weeks. Ian (Wiki Ed) (talk) 19:46, 17 December 2015 (UTC)