Talk:Wikimedia Blog/Drafts/Teenagers in Armenia are introduced to Wikipedia by Wiki Camps

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Anna's comments[edit]

I'm so happy to read this blog draft about our amazing Armenian friends! :)

My comments/questions/suggestions are as follows:

  • Wikicamps landing page: WMAM has separate pages about each of its wiki camps. Do they also have 1 main landing page which links all of their wiki camp pages together in one place? That would be very helpful to have going forward as other groups look into doing similar projects.
  • Children/schoolchildren: People between the ages of 14-20 are not 'children'. However, because the group includes 20 year olds, we cannot say 'teenagers' either. Young people, in my experience as a teacher, do not like being called 'kids'. This is tricky. It is probably good to have each term -- children, schoolchildren, teenagers, etc. -- included at least once for future searching purposes. But I wouldn't overuse the term children. Campers seems to be a neutral and accurate label. It's also cute. :)
  • This statement needs clarification: "They are acquainted with research, which is the cornerstone for building Wikipedia, mostly, will not need special care and they are able to provide more content in quality and quantity." They refers to younger contributors, correct? Stating that they mostly will not need much care -- whether generally or specifically online -- is questionable. Also, that they are able to contribute more content in quality and quantity is arguable. I'm afraid that this statement could become a point of contention and recommend revising it.
  • Education program: I do think it is worth noting that some of the non-newbies at the camps had been (and still are) participants in WMAM's very successful Wikipedia Education Program (see here). Please confirm that with Lilit and include that in the blog, along with a link to their page on Outreach wiki.
  • Coolest project: Wikicamp was apparently voted the coolest project at Wikimania 2014. I have heard that from Susana herself, but I cannot find documentation of that on wiki. Please do try to find a citation. The mention of this here could be used if there is nothing else.

Thanks to Samir, Susana, and Lilit for this inspiring story. <3 Anna Koval (WMF) (talk) 15:25, 8 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Anna and Samir. Thank you for a great blogpost Samir and for your kind words and helpful comments Anna.
  • Currently we do not have any landing page, as we only had 3 camps, but if you think that creating a landing page will be helpful for other groups, we'll do that. I think, besides wiki camp main pages, we'll also include links to all possible information we can find about Wikicamps (i.e. media links, statistics, grants/grant reports etc.). And I'm also thinking of creating one in Outreach in English. Thanks for the idea.
  • I could not find documentation about the coolest project, but I do find a photo and a video of the announcement of the coolest project at Wikimania. Is that be OK as a citation?
Thank you for your support. --David Saroyan (talk) 11:25, 9 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Dear David,
Thanks so much for your help with this! It's great to hear from you. <3
--A landing page for all WM AM WikiCamps would be great. Thank you for doing that. :)
--A general page on Outreach wiki has been begun at your wise suggestion! Please see: outreach:Education/WikiCamps. We should expand it before linking it in the blog, though, I think. Please help however you can! :)
--That photo is precious and the video is perfect for citation! @Selsharbaty (WMF): please do try to use both in the blog post if you can. <3
This is coming along so nicely! I'm very happy! :) Anna Koval (WMF) (talk) 15:33, 9 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Dear Anna, I created the landing page on hywiki both in Armenian and in English. I hope it'll be helpful. I added some info about Wikicamps (mostly in Armenian), if you have any suggestion what I can also add, I'll do it with great pleasure. --David Saroyan (talk) 07:44, 10 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Dear David, those landing pages are perfect!! :) And so pretty, too! :) The long list of media links is impressive and the metrics are amazing. Thank you for pulling together this very helpful resource! Շնորհակալություն. <3 Anna Koval (WMF) (talk) 18:56, 10 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]


Replies from Samir[edit]

Hi Anna, sorry for being late in reply! Here are my replies to your comments/suggestions inline:

  • Wikicamps landing page: WMAM has separate pages about each of its wiki camps. Do they also have 1 main landing page which links all of their wiki camp pages together in one place? That would be very helpful to have going forward as other groups look into doing similar projects.
Thanks to David this has been perfectly solved!
  • Children/schoolchildren: People between the ages of 14-20 are not 'children'. However, because the group includes 20 year olds, we cannot say 'teenagers' either. Young people, in my experience as a teacher, do not like being called 'kids'. This is tricky. It is probably good to have each term -- children, schoolchildren, teenagers, etc. -- included at least once for future searching purposes. But I wouldn't overuse the term children. Campers seems to be a neutral and accurate label. It's also cute. :)
I love this suggestion. Will work on changing the blog title and the content as possible.
  • This statement needs clarification: "They are acquainted with research, which is the cornerstone for building Wikipedia, mostly, will not need special care and they are able to provide more content in quality and quantity." They refers to younger contributors, correct? Stating that they mostly will not need much care -- whether generally or specifically online -- is questionable. Also, that they are able to contribute more content in quality and quantity is arguable. I'm afraid that this statement could become a point of contention and recommend revising it.
This is not what I mean, Anna. I mean that it's easier to hold events for university students and graduates 18-30 yrs old. The younger (e.g. Children) and further older (e.g. senior citizens) may need special care. Our friends in Armenia did not choose the easy way of holding events for the most potential (20-30 yrs) that has less needs and better products, instead they worked on a younger generation that needs more care and is, normally, not expected to give great products. However, they were able to take it to success and achieve what other volunteers in other more potential generations don't. Is my phrasing not clear? does it need more clarification for this part?
  • Education program: I do think it is worth noting that some of the non-newbies at the camps had been (and still are) participants in WMAM's very successful Wikipedia Education Program (see here). Please confirm that with Lilit and include that in the blog, along with a link to their page on Outreach wiki.
I may say that the whole project is part of education outreach as all participants are school children, but you have a point in linking to education program pages. I will do, and thanks for reminding me!
  • Coolest project: Wikicamp was apparently voted the coolest project at Wikimania 2014. I have heard that from Susana herself, but I cannot find documentation of that on wiki. Please do try to find a citation. The mention of this here could be used if there is nothing else.
David has provided great citation for this part. I will add it to the draft. Thank you, David!

I hope that helps. --Selsharbaty (WMF) (talk) 09:42, 11 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Dear Samir, this definitely does help. And that expanded phrasing above is more clear now. Recommend explaining it that way in the blog, if it is not too lengthy. We should avoid vagueness in that regard for sure. Thanks for your thoughts! Anna Koval (WMF) (talk) 12:46, 11 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]