Wikipedia:GLAM/MGS/Events and Workshops/St Andrews University Postgrads & Researchers

About the event
This GRADskills Innovation Grant-funded workshop aims to give academics at St Andrews the opportunity to productively engage with the world's largest free repository of information, Wikipedia. The sixth most visited website on the internet, edited more than ten times a second, and with five million articles on the English-language Wikipedia alone, it is the major evolving source of reference for the public at large. Wikipedia has been met with considerable skepticism by many researchers and tutors, however, for its purported biases, lack of reliability, and ease of editing. With resources provided by Wikimedia UK, the practical element of the workshop will set participants up as editors on Wikipedia, provide them with basic skills in wikitext and wikicode to strengthen weak pages in their field of study, detail how to use the watch list, the Tea House, wiki etiquette and other essentials. Concerns will be addressed, providing a more nuanced and positive approach to the appropriate use of this global open-source knowledge project. We will examine how it can be used to disseminate research findings, as well as the use it is being put to in higher level institutions, for example in undergraduate teaching. Limited to 15 places on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch will be provided. E-mail Tom at ts91@st-andrews.ac.uk to book your place.


 * How do I prepare?
 * Sign up for the event
 * You MUST Create a Wikipedia account in advance. If more than 6 accounts are created from one IP address within 24 hours the IP will be blocked for vandalism.
 * Bring a laptop - tablets can be used but I promise, it's much easier with a keyboard.
 * Learn about editing if you like: Tutorial, or Getting started on Wikipedia for more information - we will mostly be using the Visual Editor.
 * Think about what you would like to edit about - you can even prepare some materials to bring with you on the day
 * Refreshments will be provided

Trainers
Training will be provided by Sara Thomas, the Wikimedian in residence for Museums Galleries Scotland.

What can I do after the event?


You may find these useful if you want to learn further about editing:
 * https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Video_tutorials
 * https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Instructional_videos_on_using_Wikipedia