Event:Kannada-Tulu Wikilearn (Planning)
Agenda
[edit]- Call for support and interested people
- Wikilearn Cerificate Course - Kannada-Tulu_Language_Group/Wiki_Learning_Kannada_Wikipedia_&_Wikisource
- Course link: https://app.learn.wiki/learning/course/course-v1:Wikipedia-Kannada+WK001+2026/home
- Overview
- Guidelines
- Initialize discussion on institutions participating offline workshops
- 4-5 institutions planned
- 2 offline events for community members
- 20 years Kannada Wikisource Anniversary edit-a-thon May-June 2026
Meeting link
[edit]- Google meet provided- if you register above
- Timing : 27 December 2025, 08:00 to 8:30 IST
Kannada-Tulu Wikilearn is a Wikimedia knowledge sharing workshop with key project scope being Wikipedia, Wikisource, Wikiquote and Wiktionary in Kannada and other languages such as Tulu etc,. To equip students with skills in managing and editing digital content, understanding open-source contributions, and navigating collaborative platforms. Foster Community Engagement by connecting students with the global Wikimedia community and encourage active participation in knowledge-sharing initiatives. The proposed wiki knowledge sharing program offers a unique opportunity for students to gain practical experience while contributing to a global knowledge-sharing initiative. We believe this program will enhance students skills, foster community involvement, and strengthen engagement with the Wikimedia movement. We look forward to discussing this proposal further and exploring the potential for implementation.
Project Summary
[edit]| Onboarding Week 1 |
Sandbox Week 2 |
Stubs & Citations Week 3 |
Commons Upload Week 4 |
Wikidata Week 5 |
Proofreading & Transclusion Week 6 |
Concluding Activities Week 7 |
| → | → | → | → | → | → | |
| 👤 | ✏️ | 📄 | 🖼️ | 🔗 | 📝 | ✓ |
| Wikimedia Introduction | Sandbox | Stubs & Citations | Commons Upload | Wikidata | Proofreading | Concluding |
| Account creation, Code of Conduct. | User page, sandbox exercises | Expanding stubs, adding citations, and drafting articles. | Uploading files to Commons with correct licensing. | Understanding Wikidata, linking items, and adding statements. | Proofreading articles, transclusion, and final polishing. | Reflection, feedback survey & certificate. |
Workflow for Wiki Learning Kannada Wikipedia & Wikisource Course
[edit]The following table outlines the step‑by‑step workflow followed during the pilot course conducted from 23 January to 14 February 2026. This blended learning model combined self‑paced online modules on the WikiLearn platform with live support sessions, Kannada-Tulu_Language_Group/Wiki_Learning_Kannada_Wikipedia_&_Wikisource/Activity.
| Week | Session / Module | Learning Objectives | Practical Tasks / Activities | Expected Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Onboarding & Introduction to Wikimedia |
|
|
|
| Week 1 | Wikipedia Basics – Editing, Sandbox, & Visual Editor |
|
|
|
| Week 2 | Wikipedia – Creating and Improving Articles |
|
|
|
| Week 2 | Wikisource – Introduction and Uploading to Commons |
|
|
|
| Week 3 | Wikisource – Proofreading and Transclusion |
|
|
|
| Week 3 | Integration – Wikidata Linking & Interwiki Connections |
|
|
|
| Week 3 | Final Assessment & Course Completion |
|
|
|
| Follow‑up Support (Post‑Course) |
|
|
| |
Notes on Implementation
[edit]- The course was delivered entirely in Kannada, with bilingual support materials provided.
- Live interactive sessions were held via Google Meet every week to address queries and provide demonstrations.
- The workflow was adjusted in real‑time based on participant feedback, with extra sessions added for Wikisource proofreading due to higher demand.
Kannada Language Workshop / Kannada‑Tulu Wikilearn
[edit]- Project Duration: 20 November 2024 – 3 June 2026
- Project Pages on Meta‑Wiki:
- 2024-2025
- 2026
- Outreach Dashboards:
The outreach project began as the Kannada Language Workshop in November 2024, focusing initially on Kannada‑language Wikimedia projects. As community engagement grew and Tulu language content needs became evident, the project was renamed Kannada‑Tulu Wikilearn in December 2025 to formally incorporate Tulu alongside Kannada. This report covers the entire project from its inception to its conclusion.
Objectives
[edit]The overarching project aimed to:
- Build capacity for new and existing editors in Kannada and Tulu Wikimedia projects.
- Introduce technical tools and editing workflows through structured workshops and online courses.
- Promote sustainable contributions to Kannada Wikipedia, Wikisource, Wikidata, Wikiquote, and related projects.
- Foster community building and mentorship through institutional partnerships and follow‑up support.
- Strengthen the representation of Kannada and Tulu languages in the Wikimedia ecosystem.
Activities
[edit]Institutional Workshops and Edit‑a‑thons
[edit]A series of in‑person workshops and edit‑a‑thons were conducted at colleges and institutions in Mangalore, Mulky, Kasaragod, and other locations. These events introduced large groups of students and faculty to Wikipedia, Wikisource, and Wikidata editing.
| Date | Location | Event | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 November 2024 | Online (Google Meet) | Preliminary community discussions – planning for upcoming activities | 15 |
| 15 December 2024 | Mangalore | Tulu Wikisource Meetup – discussed Wikisource activities and grant applications | 12 |
| 16 December 2024 | St Aloysius University, Mangalore | Wikipedia Asian Month offline edit‑a‑thon | 30 |
| 26–28 December 2024 | Online (Google Meet) | Wikidata, Wikisource, and PAWS/Pywikibot workshops (three consecutive sessions) | 20–25 per session |
| 27 December 2025 | Online (Google Meet) | Event:Kannada-Tulu Wikilearn (Planning) – planning call for 2026 activities | 10 |
| 18 January 2026 | St Aloysius University, Mangalore | Event:Kannada-Tulu Language Group/WP25,Wikilearning,WAM & WSC Prize Distribution Ceremony – prize distribution and community gathering | 65 (40 students, 15 community, 10 faculty) |
| 23 January – 14 February 2026 | Online (WikiLearn) | Wiki Learning Kannada Wikipedia & Wikisource (pilot version) – 27 participants completed the course | 27 |
| 30 January – 1 February 2025 | Online (Google Meet) | Wiktionary, Templates, and Infobox workshops | 15–20 per session |
| 7–8 February 2026 | Toppers Tuition Centre, Kumble, Kerala | Wikidata Editathon – demonstration of Wikidata item creation, labels, descriptions, and references | 22 |
| 20 February 2026 | Maps College, Mangalore | Wikipedia editathon –  |
50 (40 students, 7 faculty, 3 community) |
| 21 February 2026 | Vijaya College, Mulky | Wikipedia workshop –  |
60 (40 students, 7 faculty, 4 community) |
| 26 February 2025 | Mangalore | Community meetup – discussions on Wikisource and conference planning | 12 |
| 4 March 2025 | Canara College, Mangalore | Wikisource workshop | 45 |
| 6 March 2025 | Vijaya College, Mulky | Wikisource workshop | 50 |
| 9 March 2025 | Suratkal | Wikisource workshop (International Women’s Day collaboration with Rotary Club) | 30 |
| 14 March 2026 | Canara College, Mangalore | Event:Kannada-Tulu Wikilearn (Canara College) –  |
65 (50 students, 10 faculty, 6 community) |
| 22–23 March 2026 | Kasaragod, Kerala | Event:Wikipedia editathon on book reviews at Kasaragod-2026 – session on creating Wikipedia pages for books | 20 |
| 23 March 2025 | Bangalore | Post‑event meetup discussion | 15 |
| 22 August 2025 | St Agnes College, Mangalore | Wikipedia and Wikisource workshop | 55 |
| 23 August 2025 | Govinda Pai Memorial Govt. College, Manjeshwaram | Wikipedia, Commons, and Wikisource workshop | 60 |
| 26 August 2025 | Govt. First Grade College for Women, Balmatta, Mangalore | Wikipedia, Commons, and Wikisource workshop | 50 |
| 19 April – 3 June 2026 | Online (Kannada Wikisource) | Wikisource20 – proofreading campaign | 33 (20 registered, 13 IP editors) |
| Total | ~320 (unique participants across all events) | ||
Online Training and Monthly Mentoring Sessions
[edit]Weekly online sessions (via Google Meet) were held to address user queries, provide technical guidance, and sustain engagement. Topics included:
- Wikidata basics and tools (wikidata‑todo, TABernacle)
- Wikisource editing and proofreading
- Pywikibot/PAWS automation
- Templates and infobox creation
- Wikiquote contributions
- Userscripts and gadgets
- Inter‑wiki linking
- Content translation
- Wikimedia privacy and administration
Specialized Campaigns
[edit]- Kannada Wikiquote 20th Anniversary Quote‑a‑thon (1–21 July 2025) – q:kn:ವಿಕಿಕೋಟ್:ಉಲ್ಲೇಖೋತ್ಸವ/ಜುಲೈ ೨೦೨೫
- Mahatma Gandhi Edit‑a‑thon (30 September – 2 October 2025) – Kannada-Tulu_Language_Group/Program/Mahatma_Gandhi_2025_edit-a-thon
- Kannada Wikisource 20th Anniversary Proofread-a-thon - s:kn:ವಿಕಿಸೋರ್ಸ್:ವಿಕಿಸೋರ್ಸ್೨೦
Outputs and Impact
[edit]Quantitative Metrics
[edit]The project achieved significant content creation and community growth across both phases:
- Total participants: ~320 across all events (including online sessions).
- New editors onboarded: 154 new accounts created; 186 active participants; 199 total participants registered.
- Overall Content contributions on Wikimedia projects:
- 8,850 new articles created.
- 50,500 articles improved.
- 77,000 total edits.
- 16 million bytes of content added.
- 1,021 media files uploaded to Wikimedia Commons.
- 10,800 references added, enhancing verifiability.
- Article views: Approximately 1.62 million views, demonstrating public reach.
- Active editors after project: 119 editors continued contributing after the project period.
Dashboard Links
[edit]- Kannada Language Workshop Dashboard
- Kannada‑Tulu Wikilearn Dashboard
- Canara College Dashboard
- Vijaya College Dashboard
- Wikipedia Asian Month Dashboard
- Govinda Pai College Dashboard
- St Agnes College Dashboard
- Balmatta College Dashboard
Challenges and Learnings
[edit]Engagement Challenges
[edit]- Student participation and editing activity declined significantly outside structured workshop environments. Follow‑up mechanisms (virtual meetups, reminders, structured tasks) were introduced to address this.
- Unexpectedly high participation in some workshops led to device shortages; many participants successfully used mobile devices, demonstrating that mobile editing can be equally efficient.
- IP throttle issues during college workshops limited the number of accounts that could be created from a single IP address, causing delays. Solutions included pre‑event account creation and alternative technical workarounds.
Positive Surprises
[edit]- Experienced community editors and enthusiasts showed remarkable interest and high‑quality contributions, especially in competitions such as Wiki Science Competition and Wikisource20. This enriched the project outcomes and strengthened collaborative spirit.
Lessons Learned
[edit]- Blended learning (online course + in‑person workshops) effectively combines theoretical knowledge with hands‑on support.
- Kannada‑language training materials significantly improve comprehension and confidence among new editors.
- Recognition (certificates, prize distribution) motivates continued involvement.
- Diversifying activities (Wikisource, Wikidata, book reviews, science photography) attracts a wider range of participants.
Future Plans
[edit]- Develop a scalable workshop model for broader institutional replication.
- Establish a formal network of faculty champions to integrate Wikimedia editing into curricula.
- Launch a mentorship program pairing experienced editors with newcomers.
- Expand the WikiLearn course to include Tulu modules and intermediate subjects.
- Systematically assess workshop outcomes to refine strategies.
- Create a community hub to foster collaboration among Kannada and Tulu editors.
- Produce printed handbooks in Kannada and Tulu for offline learners.
Gallery
[edit]-
WikiLearn Course Completion Ceremony -
Maps College Workshop Invitation -
Vijaya College Workshop Invitation -
Canara College Workshop Invitation -
Wikisource20 Award Plaque -
Proofread activity graph (2021–2026) -
Yearly activity graph -
Kannada Wikisource Workflow -
OpenRefine workflow (Kannada)
Resources and Materials
[edit]All training materials and guides created during the project are available on Meta‑Wiki:
- General Editing Guide
- Templates Guide
- Infoboxes Guide
- Wikidata Guide (English)
- Wikidata Guide (Kannada)
- Wikisource Help Page (English)
- Wikisource Help Page (Kannada)
- Wiktionary Help Page
- Wikipedia Guidelines
- Privacy Policy Resource
- PAWS Help Page
- Wikipedia Editing Guide (Slides)
- Wikisource Editing Guide (Slides)
- Kannada Wiki Handbook (PDF)
- Wikisource Proofreading Guide (PDF)
Dissemination
[edit]Project outcomes and learnings were shared through:
- Diff blog posts:
- Social media announcements and press coverage (linked in the Activity section).
Conclusion
[edit]The Kannada Language Workshop / Kannada‑Tulu Wikilearn project successfully expanded the contributor base for Kannada and Tulu Wikimedia projects, strengthened institutional partnerships, and demonstrated the effectiveness of a blended learning approach. The name change to include Tulu better reflected the project's inclusive scope and helped attract a broader community. The lessons learned will inform future initiatives and help sustain the momentum of regional language communities on Wikimedia.