Would you like to receive training on how to deliver Wikipedia editing events? Wikimedia UK are now inviting expressions of interest in our next round of Train the Trainer, due to take place in early 2022. We are delighted to say that we’ll once again be partnering with Trainer Bhav Patel.
Volunteer trainers play a key role in the delivery of Wikimedia UK programmes, helping us to achieve our strategic objectives by delivering Wikimedia project training to new and existing editors across the country. Demand for training often outstrips staff capacity to fulfill, and we’re conscious that our existing networks do not always allow us to reach all the communities with whom we’d like to work.
In the past, we’ve offered our main Train the Trainer programme as a 3-4 day in-person training course, and it has often focussed on training design and pedagogy. This time however, we’re taking a slightly different approach, which we hope will offer more flexibility to our volunteer trainers, and which we have developed in response to feedback from the community, and from partner organisations.
The aim of this round of training will be to equip Volunteer Trainers with the skills, experience and resources to deliver a standard ‘Introduction to Wikipedia’, such that would take place at a standard online editathon or wiki workshop Drawing on the experience of a number of trainers and staff, we have developed a set of training slides and exercises which can be delivered without the requirement for the Volunteer Trainer to do their own course design. In time, and should they so desire, members of this cohort could be supported to deliver training in-person, and with their own design.
Expressions of interest are welcomed from all, however given the current demographic mix of our training network, we are particularly interested in hearing from women, members of the LGBT+ community, and non-white people.
Course content and key dates
The course would be organised as follows, all sessions would be held online over Zoom:
- Briefing: Thursday 27th January, 6-7pm. Introduction session.
- Experience: Saturday 29th January, 1-5pm. Trainees would attend an Editathon / Wiki Workshop as participant observers.
- Debrief: Sunday 30th January, 1-5pm. Trainees would discuss and debrief the Saturday session, exploring how and why the training was put together.
- Practice: February. Trainees will run their own online Editathons / Wiki Workshops in pairs or groups of three. These sessions will be organised by Wikimedia UK, probably with partner organisations who will be aware that they are helping new trainers. We are also open to trainees setting up their own practice sessions, if they know a group with whom they’d like to work.
What we would expect from you if you decide to join
- Full attendance at the training course as outlined above.
- To lead training for a minimum of 2-3 events per year. This would be a mixture of third party events which our Programmes Team would field to you, and those you would organise yourself. Please note that we do receive requests for training to be delivered within office hours.
- To be responsive to communication from Wikimedia UK staff and Event Organisers, including in advance of the event, and to complete basic reporting, including returning sign up sheets, afterwards.
- Familiarity with, or desire to increase your knowledge of the Wikimedia Projects, particularly Wikipedia. Pre-course support can be provided if you feel that you would benefit from this in order to fully participate in the training.
- To represent Wikimedia UK well during the time in which you are volunteering.
- To adhere to our Safe Spaces policy, and the Code of Conduct.
What you can expect from us
- Full training and support to become a trainer for editathons and similar events.
- Access to materials for participants.
- Ongoing support from the Programmes Team.
- Job references upon request (paper / email / LinkedIn as required).
- Reasonable volunteer expenses where appropriate.
How to apply
Please fill in the Google Form here. Applications will close on the 9th December, and all successful applicants will be notified by 14th December.
Further background information
Volunteer Trainer is one of two main volunteer roles available at Wikimedia UK, the other being Board Member. In 2020, in light of the demand for online training, we ran an Online Training for Online Trainers course for our existing trainer network, and our last in-person training for new trainers took place in November 2019.
The Wikimedia UK Volunteer Trainer Role description.