Wikipedia:Education Program/Structure proposals/Preceptors as Peer Educators

Linda S. Watts Historytrain
 * Please list your name and/or Wikipedia username.


 * What idea(s) do you have for what the new structure for the U.S. and Canada Wikipedia Education Programs could look like?

Goal Statement:

One of the challenges of operationalizing partnerships between Wikipedia and higher education involves the search for a sustainable model. That is, how do we best steward available resources to ensure that such initiatives rove efficient, effective, meaningful, transformative, and lasting?

Problem Statement:

The reliance on volunteer ambassadors, combined with the short cycle of academic terms (ranging from every 10 weeks on the quarter system to every 16 weeks on the semester system) creates the potential for considerable instability in the implementation of broad-based and deep participation in partnerships between higher education and Wikipedia.

Contributing Factors:

•College terms are short, meaning that instructors begin new courses frequently •Faculty preparation times for course and assignment design is therefore limited, often taking place during session breaks (when volunteers may be least available to confer/collaborate) •Faculty may lack models for thoughtful integration of Wikipedia writing/editing within instruction •Even those faculty members with experience may not be able to meet the current threshold to qualify for the ambassador program •There can be a problematic gap between the content knowledge of the faculty member and the technical knowledge of the Wikipedia ambassador, leading to difficulties with delivering integrated instruction •Volunteer turnover rates can be high

Concept for Intervention:

College students (typically undergraduates) who have already successfully completed the course in question can operate (for academic credit, work-study hours, volunteer recognition, work experience, degree honors, or other consideration) as preceptors to subsequent offerings of the course. Such peer educators would understand both the course content and the best practices for instruction through Wikipedia.

For example, and individual who proves successful in a 100-level (frosh year) course might go on to serve as a preceptor for as long as 3 ½ years as a continuing student and preceptor. They might even elect to continue their work as alumni, and alumni organizations often welcome programs to keep graduates connected to campus.


 * How would you ensure this new structure involves all key stakeholders, including academics and the Wikipedia community?

Consultative/Inclusive Practice: 1.Previous faculty participants can be approached to vet the plan for feasibility and appeal. 2.Faculty who have made inquiries but not qualified for or applied for ambassador pairings may be contacted for comments, suggestions, and expressions of interest. 3.Current campus and online ambassadors can be encouraged to participate actively in this comment phase of the plan. 4.Wikipedia Foundation staff may be polled for their ideas and feedback. 5.Notice might be provided on Wikipedia (via banner announcement or other means) that responses on the proposal from the entire Wikipedia community are welcome.


 * What are potential pitfalls of this approach?

Inertia or busy schedules may limit how many colleges and universities opt to participate in such a pilot, especially on an ongoing basis.[Corresponding suggestion for possible/partial remedy: Establish a mechanism (and associated set of criteria) by which an institution could qualify as a “Center for Excellence” in terms of thoughtful integration of Wikipedia writing/editing within higher education.]

Faculty members are overextended, constraining their ability to take part.[Corresponding suggestion for possible/partial remedy: Incentivize faculty effort and stimulate institutional recognition of these contributions by instituting a program by which participating faculty members can earn letters of commendation, which they can present as part of their annual dossiers for merit review, promotion, and tenure.]

Students may be reluctant to step forward as potential preceptors, particularly where the option is not widely publicized. [Corresponding suggestion for possible/partial remedy: Set in place a nomination/self-nomination model through which prospective preceptors may be identified by instructors, staff, current preceptors, peers, or the students themselves.]

Students may not persist in the role of preceptor.[Corresponding suggestion for possible/partial remedy: Wikipedia Foundation might consider issuing certificates at various levels based on length/volume/nature/quality of service (bronze, silver, gold, platinum) using a points system.]

Students may require support to maintain effectiveness.[Corresponding suggestion for possible/partial remedy: Make online ambassadors or similar persons available for consultation with preceptors on an as-needed basis. Campuses operating as centers for excellence might be required to designate a central on-site point-of-contact to help and coordinate such efforts.]

Courses may not reach the current threshold for appointment of a campus ambassador.[Corresponding suggestion for possible/partial remedy: Either lower the threshold or implement a new (more modest) level of participation in the program.]


 * Any other comments about your proposal?

The longer we retain a preceptor… ...the more resource-effective their training costs ...the greater their growth in understanding and reliability ...the more compelling a claim that they have demonstrated professional service and built significant expertise, such that they might present these activities as credentials for scholarships, employment, or admission/aid in graduate/professional study ...the more profound and pervasive the impact on student learning