WMUK Skills Development Training 2016

Aims

These free workshops will help with the development of WMUK trainers' soft skills.

You can attend both, or just one of them, depending on your interests and areas into which you’d like to develop.

This is a significant investment for Wikimedia UK, so it would be great if the attendees were then able to use what they learn in volunteering with us.

Course details

Volunteer engagement:

Do you want to get more people involved with editing Wikipedia? Have you wondered how to get newbies more involved and build the community?

This workshop explores why volunteer engagement works for organisation like Wikimedia locally, nationally and internationally. We will explore ways to encourage more volunteers to get involved with WMUK, and how to get existing volunteers to do more.

We will look at how you can get people from different backgrounds interested and involved with editing Wikimedia. Our participants will look at what motivates people to get involved; what rewards exist for volunteering; the difference between staff members and volunteers and what activities volunteers enjoy.

The workshop will also help to develop practical and appropriate strategies for WMUK to increase the numbers of enthusiastic and active volunteers. The workshop will end by developing individual Action Plans for activating, communicating with and motivating new volunteers.

Project Management for Wikimedians:

This workshop will help individual Wikimedians to use the principles of project management to set up and deliver successful WMUK events. Whether you are setting up a small meeting to train local business people about Wikipedia or a weekend editathon at a large university, project management techniques can help.

We will look at the best way to deliver a successful, top quality project on time and on budget.

Our participants will explore how to use simple but effective project management techniques. They will also consider the different skills needed to manage projects in a volunteer environment. They will also look at ways to assess risk factors and how to manage potential problems before they happen.

The workshop will end by creating a blueprint for project managing a Wikimedia event for volunteer members of the community.

Dates

The Volunteer Engagement training is 1/2 day and will be held on January 8 (Friday), 2016 from 14:00-17:00.

The Project Management training is a full day session and will be held on January 9 (Saturday), 2016 from 10:00 to 17:00.

Location

The sessions will be held at Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4LT. Meeting room 1A-B, basement.

Travel and accommodation expenses

Wikimedia UK will pay for travel and accommodation expenses for those that need it. If you do require reimbursement for any of these, please make Wikimedia UK aware of this in advance. It would be appreciated if you could make your own arrangements though.

Facilities

The training will take place in a room arranged in a classroom layout. There will be two flipcharts with pens, a screen, and a projector will be in the room. Refreshments will be provided. WiFi will be provided. You don’t need to prepare anything for these workshops.

Contact person

If you need further details contact Karla Marte, WMUK - karla.marte@wikimedia.org.uk

Registration of interest

Because the space for both sessions is limited please let us know if you are interested in attending any of the sessions by signing up below - do note whether you're interested in both, or just one of them. Please also briefly outline (2-3 sentences) why you’re interested, and how you could use the skills learned.

• Jason.nlw (talk) 09:37, 7 December 2015 (GMT) This course would help develop my project management skills which would be used in all aspects of my roll as a Wikipedian in Residence. Volunteer engagement is an area in which i have already had some expearience, but would like to learn more about how i could make better use of volunteer networks and how to retain volunteers following initial events.
• Elflin (talk) 22:59, 10 December 2015 (GMT) I would be interested in taking part in both training sessions, as I feel that they would be a great continuation of the Train the Trainer session I took part in with Wikimedia last year in Edinburgh. I'm currently working in a digital fabrication lab in Glasgow and my boss is keen to support me to run some wikimedia related events in the space. I have a few ideas i'd like to develop in that context and these training sessions would be a great opportunity for me to discuss and test out those ideas with other members of the wikimedia community. I would need help with travel expenses to be able to attend training in London.
• MichaelPWhite (talk) 09:35, 14 December 2015 (GMT) Currently working on behalf of organisations who wish to hold Wikipedia edit-a-thons to improve the knowledge around their industry on Wikipedia. A completely non-promotional activity that respects Wikipedia policy and the associated Statement on Wikipedia from participating communications firms. Events next year will be held with top academics in their fields, along with Wikipedia training, thought leadership, etc. As I've never run events like this before, looking for all the knowledge and guidance I can get.
• Leutha (talk) 12:25, 14 December 2015 (GMT) I am interested in the Project Management session. I am not clear about what the Volunteer Engagement session is actually about. (Please see talk page for more specific comments). I have been an active Wikimedian for over twelve years and am active on Wikipedia, Wikiversity, Comons and Wikisource. I have been involved in running a number of Wikimedia events of varying sizes and purposes. I am involved in academic research into the scientific organisation of collaborative labour, and publish the material in an open way.
• Andy Mabbett (User:Pigsonthewing); Andy's talk; Andy's edits 21:31, 15 December 2015 (GMT) I'd find each of the parts useful in both my regular volunteer work (things like the "Voice Intro Project"; running editathons) and Wikimedian in Residence roles. They would also inform my voluntary work with other Open Source projects, such as enlisting new OpenStreetMap contributors.
• Sara Thomas aka Lirazelf I've done a good deal of project / event management, as well as volunteer work, but with the latter I'd be particularly interested in hearing/learning any wiki-specific information, would be great to feed this in to the development of the Scottish community that I've been working in to my WiR role with Museums Galleries Scotland.
• Jordan Landes: I would be interested in attending the Friday 8 January session, as we have held several events at Senate House Library and hope to hold more.
• Ham II (talk) 17:41, 16 December 2015 (GMT): I would like to attend both events and would require reimbursement for travel and accommodation in a Travelodge. I'm an accredited trainer and former Wikimedian in Residence with experience of leading workshops and organising events, and I intend to do more of this in the future. It would be very beneficial for me to hear the current state of the thinking on "what's in it for them" (i.e. the people we're trying to persuade to edit Wikimedia projects) and discuss this with the current WiRs and other trainers. I'm also looking for an opportunity to develop my project management skills.
• Edwardx (talk) 12:45, 17 December 2015 (GMT) I am interested in the project management session, and slightly interested in the other one, but am sceptical as to whether it would be a good use of my time, especially as it is not clear what will be covered. I would broadly echo the issues raised by Leutha. Follow-up from these events does seem to be slow and lacking in focus. For example, what has happened with the training modules development? I am a WMUK accredited trainer and have run various training events. I contribute extensive content to Wikipedia and photos to Commmons. Edwardx (talk) 12:45, 17 December 2015 (GMT)

I agree that better follow up is one of the things to continually work on. For the modules, they're still being written - I'm told that it's a long process! :) I really welcome your ideas on improving focus - drop me an email if you like. Daria Cybulska (WMUK) (talk) 11:17, 21 December 2015 (GMT)

• Thryduulf (talk: local | en.wp | en.wikt) 13:54, 18 December 2015 (GMT) I'm primarily interested in the project management session, but I would find both useful. I would like to organise sessions to engage various groups of people with Wikipedia, but at present I'm not sure of the best way to go about doing so - something that I feel these sessions (particularly the latter) would assist with.
• Harry Mitchell (talk) 20:05, 18 December 2015 (GMT) Interested in the project management session. Admin and oversighter on Wikipedia, admin on Commons, accredited trainer (was on the inaugural course), have run lots of outreach events/editathons/things along those lines in the past and have one in the pipeline for spring 2016; was heavily involved in organising Wikimania 2014 including recruiting dozens of volunteers and delivering the training/induction sessions for them; organise Wiki Takes Coventry a few years ago and was on the organising committee for WLM 2013. Have been less active recently partly due to personal circumstances but looking to get back into doing interesting things. Would need train fare covering (£83); might need accommodation (cheapest place I know in London is £52/night) but will hopefully be able to stay with friends.
• ClemRutter (talk) 01:33, 21 December 2015 (GMT) I have hesitated on whether to respond, but feel I should lend support if invited. I share the consensus concerns expressed above, and question whether there aren't other issues of greater importance. Preparation, backup and follow-up. For instance, see en:User:ClemRutter/training for the resources I have had to produce myself, we aim to deliver a professional service but need to have the tools. For those who don't know me- I have edited on 43 individual wikipedias have 19000 edits and 400 articles under my belt on en:. put 9000 images onto commons and have a rapidly deteriorating memory- names, faces, places and deadlines.

Do note that this is not a first-come, first served list: the order in which people add themselves is of no significance. WMUK will be contacting you closer to the date to confirm your place.

Closing date

The closing date to respond to the registration of interest is December 17, 2015.