Wikipedia:Education Program/Structure proposals/Wiki Education Coalition


 * Please list your name and/or Wikipedia username.

User:Jan eissfeldt and User:Pharos


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

The 'Wiki Education Coalition' will be a recognition of the already-developing partnership of Wikimedia chapters/communities and universities/libraries in supporting the Wikipedia Education Program in North America, with a focus on regional devolution of responsibilities, and also some cooperative action through a joint committee.

In developing the next stage, any re-design should take into account two major results of what we achieved so far:
 * 1) The progress in interactions with educational institutions in the relevant regions and the growing diversity of project proposals coming out of this situation.
 * 2) The built-up of local structures by our community on the ground as well as online that has taken place so far.

It is therefore proposed to:


 * devolve formal responsibilities to properly working existing structures on the ground that already carry the can in reality in their areas (on- as well as offline) and keep open options for new forms of (self-)organization under the appropriate accountability & transparency standards.


 * for areas without such an option, without the desire to do so, or in need of help, to be supported by a committee of the local participating Wikimedia and educational organizations in North America, with representatives drawn from the several organizations and from representatives elected by the editing community according to English Wikipedia custom.


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

Different structures require different approaches. However, all shall be backed-up by a code of proper conduct and guidelines defining a broad space of possibility in which every actor can settle according to local needs.


 * What are potential pitfalls of this approach?

Insufficiently concrete, clear, and detailed principles, to be agreed upon in advance, on how to handle potential inter-organizational problems.


 * Any other comments about your proposal?

There are working papers, developed with affected local communities, attached to this proposal to address the different classes of role models on the relevant levels more en detail as well as key issues required to make it work beyond single cases.