WikiLearn/Resources for course creators

What is WikiLearn?

WikiLearn is a unique online learning platform developed for and by the Wikimedia community. It offers a diverse range of self-guided and instructor-led courses, providing Wikimedians with continuous learning opportunities and skill development in a multilingual environment. Beyond instruction, it’s about empowerment—giving contributors the tools to transform ideas into action and confidently enrich Wikimedia projects.

You can read more about WikiLearn on Meta-Wiki and visit the platform here.

What kind of courses can be hosted on WikiLearn?

WikiLearn offers online courses that build the skills and knowledge needed to participate meaningfully in the Wikimedia projects and the wider Wikimedia movement. To support this goal, WikiLearn courses are guided by a shared set of design principles that keep the catalog relevant, learner-centered, and in constant improvement. Course instructors are encouraged to use these principles when designing and/or adapting courses for WikiLearn.

Design principles

1. Courses on WikiLearn are focused on practical Wikimedia tasks They are built around practical knowledge that helps learners develop skills they can directly apply in their Wikimedia activities. Topics are adapted to address specific needs and clear learning goals, avoiding unnecessary repetition in the catalog.	2. WikiLearn courses strive to be flexible and time-sensitive They offer content and activities that cater to various learning styles. Courses are modular and time-efficient for a volunteer community, with a maximum three-month duration. Learners are supported with timely communications that facilitate engagement throughout their learning journey as needed.
3. WikiLearn offers courses that strengthen communities Courses provide spaces for participants to further engage with peers and the larger Wikimedia movement, promoting collaboration and community-building. Learners are able to find communication spaces beyond the platform that allow them to stay connected to the movement during and after their learning experience.	4. Courses on WikiLearn evolve through feedback and experimentation They incorporate regular feedback from learners to improve quality. Each course outlines prerequisites and learning goals so learners know what to expect. Experimentation and innovative approaches that serve the Wikimedia community are encouraged, and pilot courses are welcomed as part of WikiLearn’s growth.

These principles are meant to be revised periodically to continue meeting the learning needs of Wikimedians and to evolve through feedback and data. They’re meant to inform the development of resources and systems that support course creators, advance content partnerships, and maintain the quality of WikiLearn’s course catalog. These resources and systems aim to provide common ground for non-negotiables and recommendations for all courses hosted on WikiLearn.

Course modalities

Instructor-led Imagine a classroom buzzing with collaboration and energy. This modality fosters vibrant communities, cultivating a strong sense of connection and enabling learners to thrive together within structured timelines.

Student-led Envision a trail through a scenic forest—learners choose their pace, explore independently, and enjoy the freedom to make the journey their own, instilling a profound sense of empowerment and autonomy.

I want to create a course on WikiLearn, where should I start?

To support you throughout the course creation process, WikiLearn offers a set of complementary resources designed to guide your course planning, development, and quality review.

• 
  The journey of a course creator on WikiLearn indicating resources and support available
• 
  A step-by-step guide to apply WikiLearn's instructional design framework in the development of an online course
• 
  A self-assessment rubric designed to help build an online course on WikiLearn

Once you're ready, feel free to submit the new course request form or reach out to the Community Development team at wikilearnwikimediaorg for further support.