Training the Trainers/February 2013 event

This page is kept as an archival reference.If you want to raise a point about it, please start a discussion thread on the community forum.

This event is for volunteers who want to take a leading role in Wikimedia UK's training programme. You can express an interest in future events by contacting daria.cybulskawikimedia.org.uk.

Where and when

The workshop took place on the weekend of 23-24 February 2013 in Manchester, and was run by a professional consultant. This session was based in North West England to target volunteers that are based towards the North of the country.

The timings of the event were: Saturday 9:30 am - 6:30pm, Sunday 9am - 5pm. Light breakfast and lunch were provided; we also had a social dinner after the training on Saturday. Travel and accommodation costs were covered.

The event was open to Wikimedia UK volunteers who can make a credible commitment to support training in future: it was considered a strong advantage to have already been involved in training events.

Aims

We know that some of our members are already delivering professional-quality training. They may think they don't need this weekend event, but it's especially important for them to sign up. This event was a chance to:

• Get accredited and receive detailed feedback about your presenting and training skills
• Get general trainer skills which you can then apply when e.g. delivering specific Wikipedia workshops
• Share your skills with others.
• Help design a training programme that serves WMUK in the long term.

Hear from previous attendees

Doug training a participant in a November 2012 Girl Geeks event

Doug Taylor, Chair of WMUK Education Committee

Being a teacher who has also spent many years working with FE colleges and businesses to offer IT and related training, I already felt comfortable teaching people something new. I have always been keen for Wikimedia UK to offer formal training for editors to build a team of people who could help engage a new generation of editors, getting them past that important first edit. I attended the first event run by our professional training partners and it was highly enjoyable, both as a way to meet other people passionate about Wikipedia and share the benefits of our experience to learn something new. Since then I have attended around a dozen training events, and supported new editors and new trainers. I went to the Manchester Girl Geeks event in November 2012 and was able to offer support to two of our newer trainers who led the session, as well as the new editors. It's a great way to help the Wikimedia mission progress, and to get around the country meeting new people.

Katie helping to train a new editor at the WMUK Ada Lovelace Day event

Katie Chan, WMUK Volunteer

Attending Training the Trainers is a great way to spend a weekend. What I enjoyed the most was learning about the different learning style each of us have, how that affects the way we deliver training, and the effect it has on receptiveness of an audience. This has helped me immensely when planning for and running a training event, to ensure that everyone who attends can get the most out of what I'm doing. A secondary benefit is that it has also improved the way I learn. Last but certainly not least, you get to meet some great people during the event!

Course details

The course focuses on enabling the participants to develop and deliver high quality training which draws on their own skills and expertise. You can then apply these skills whenever you run a training session. Note that this is about training, not presenting, so we will not be focusing on developing content of presentations on e.g. Wikipedia.

By the end of the course the participants were able to:

• Set training objectives and structure a session with appropriate material to meet those objectives
• Present information clearly to different audiences and use visual aids effectively
• Identify ways to make the sessions interactive and participative and deal with questions

As a part of the course participants also received an hour long 1-1 telephone feedback. This provided the opportunity to discuss performance and reactions to the course privately. It promoted intense reflection and rounded learning.

The participants were also able to:

• Recognise the importance of diversity in the training context
• Respond appropriately to the needs of volunteer trainers
• Understand the impact of different learning and communication styles when designing and delivering training
• Use active listening to guide their interaction with participants
• Give effective and appropriate feedback to other participants

Attendees

This training represents an investment by Wikimedia in its future, so the choice of participants was made on the basis of how credibly each individual can commit to delivering future events.

1. Bobrayner (talk) 23:11, 19 January 2013 (UTC)

   Reconfirming: Yes, I'm still planning to come See you soon! Bobrayner (talk) 00:05, 10 February 2013 (UTC)

2. Worm^TT(talk) 15:30, 18 January 2013 (UTC)
3. w:en:User:Staceydolxx - if there are spaces. Please contact Worm^TT(talk) 11:10, 23 January 2013 (UTC)
4. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 10:33, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
5. Mark M (talk) 16:33, 18 January 2013 (UTC)
6. Bazonka (talk) 20:45, 10 January 2013 (UTC)
7. --Deskana (talk) (email) 13:42, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
8. Would love to come - am just checking on practical details. PatHadley (talk) 15:47, 22 January 2013 (UTC)

   I can now confirm that I would like to attend! I'll email Richard Nevell to make sure! PatHadley (talk) 12:17, 10 February 2013 (UTC)

9. Mike Peel (talk) 20:56, 22 January 2013 (UTC)
10. --Thoughtfortheday (talk) 22:04, 25 January 2013 (UTC)
11. Julia W (talk)
12. --ClemRutter (talk) 19:12, 30 January 2013 (UTC)

Reserve

1. (email)Jyrejoice (talk) 23:16, 23 January 2013 (UTC)

Not attending

1. bray_julia@hotmail.com

   Location did not suit. Richard Nevell (WMUK) (talk) 11:13, 13 February 2013 (UTC)

2. [[::User:82.9.180.169|82.9.180.169]] ([[::User talk:82.9.180.169|talk]]⧼dot-separator⧽[[::Special:Contributions/82.9.180.169|contribs]])

   the chapter has tried contacting this person, but it will be removed if there is no response.Daria Cybulska (WMUK) (talk) 15:16, 22 January 2013 (UTC)

3. alex.a620@yahoo.com

   the chapter has tried contacting this person, but it will be removed if there is no response.Daria Cybulska (WMUK) (talk) 15:16, 22 January 2013 (UTC)

4. --LukeSurl (talk) 16:32, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

Interested but February 2013 date doesn't suit

• Cutiekatie (Talk) 16.12, 8 February 2013 (UTC)

Sorry it took me a while to decide but i have now decided against coming to this because it would be so difficult to travel to and from for me. Ironically i normally live in Manchester - in Scotland for uni, so any other time would have been perfect. keep me posted for more events like this and i'll try to make it to one eventually! Thanks.

• the wub "?!" 21:30, 8 February 2013 (UTC)
• -- Trevj (talk)

  I'd love to attend but unfortunately I now have another engagement on that day, which is rather a shame. I hope it's useful for you all, and hopefully I'll be able to attend another time. -- Trevj (talk) 08:16, 11 February 2013 (UTC)

Venue

Holiday Inn Hotel Manchester West, Liverpool Street, Salford, M5 4LT - Coordinates: 53.479615°, -2.268822°

See #Getting there below.

Accommodation

Holiday Inn for those that need it.

Facilities

Quay Suite, in a classroom layout. Two flipcharts with pens, a screen, and a projector. Refreshments and free WiFi provided.

Getting there

By car

There is free parking and the hotel is near junction 3 of the M602.

By rail

Most train tickets to Manchester will say MANCHESTER CTLZ, this means they include travel between rail and tram stations in the Manchester central zone, which includes all stations mentioned below.

From Deansgate station

The walking route from Deansgate station (0.9 miles, 20 mins) takes you briefly North up Deansgate, then left down Liverpool Road past MOSI, right onto Water Street and left onto Princess Bridge across the Irwell into Salford, down the steps, across the A6042 and along Hampson Street (under the railway bridge) and continuing onto Middlewood Street and Liverpool Street until the Holiday Inn appears on the left.

From Salford Central station

The walking route fron Salford Central station (0.8 miles, 16 mins) takes you briefly North up New Bailey Street, left down Chapel St, left down Oldfield Rd and right up Liverpool Street with the Holiday Inn appearing on the left.

From Manchester Victoria station

Take the train to Salford Central station and follow the directions from there.

From Manchester Oxford Road station

Take the train to Deansgate station and follow the directions from there.

From Manchester Piccadilly station

Manchester Piccadilly is the largest station in Manchester, where many participants will arrive.

The easiest (and probably the quickest) option is to take the train from platform 14 to Deansgate station and follow the directions from there.

Back up alternative options include:

• Take the Metrolink tram to Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station, which is across the road from Deansgate railway station, follow the directions from there. Piccadilly metrolink station is downstairs from the railway station.
• Take the free Metroshuttle bus number 3 service to Salford Central and follow the directions from there. The Piccadilly Metroshuttle bus stop is on Station Approach, immediately outside the main doors from the railway station.

Returning to Piccadilly station on Sunday

The train from Deansgate to Piccadilly on a Sunday is at a frequency of 2 per hour, at 11 and 51 minutes past the hour. Depending on timing, it may be quicker to get the Metrolink from Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station, which run every 15 minutes on a Sunday.

By tram

Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink station is across the road from Deansgate railway station, follow the directions from there.

By bus

The Traveline Northwest journey planner should give you the best option.