Wikipedia:Wikipedia Signpost/2015-08-05/Blog: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
Importing basic Blog repost via the [https://github.com/ResidentMario/Blog_Importer Blog_Importer] script.
 
Format
Line 4:
<div style="padding-left:50px; padding-right:50px;">
 
{{Wikipedia:Signpost/Template:Signpost-article-start|{{{1|YourGet titlehelp editing Wikipedia with the new “Co-op” mentorship program}}}|By ?[[User:I_JethroBT|I JethroBT]]| 5 August 2015}}
 
</div>
 
<div style="width:46em; line-height:1.6em; font-size:1em; font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; padding-left:5em;" class="plainlinks"><div class="entry">
 
[https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CO-OP_Logo_2.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/CO-OP_Logo_2.png]
{{Signpost filler image|image=File:CO-OP_Logo_2.png|caption=}}
''<small>Logo idea for the en.wiki project, the Co-op. Created by graphic designer Soujanyaa Boruah. [[c:File:CO-OP_Logo_2.png|Logo]] by Soujanyaa Boruah, freely licensed under [[creativecommons:by-sa/4.0/deed.en|CC BY-SA 4.0.]]</small>''
 
<div style="text-align:center;border:0 solid #ccc;margin:.5em 0 .8em 1.4em;float:right;clear:right;">
<div style="padding:3px!important;border:0 solid #cccccc;text-align:center;overflow:hidden;font-size:94%;background-color:white;display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:222px;">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Co-opLanding.png/220px-Co-opLanding.png
<div style="border:none;text-align:left;line-height:1.4em;padding:3px!important;font-size:94%;">
<div style="float:right;border:none !important;background:none !important;"></div>
''<small>Screenshot of the landing page for the [[Wikipedia:Co-op|Co-op mentorship space]] on English Wikipedia. [[c:File:Co-opLanding.png|Screenshot]] by [[c:User:I_JethroBT|I JethroBT]], freely licensed under [[creativecommons:by-sa/4.0/deed.en|CC BY-SA 4.0.]]</small>''
</div>
</div>
</div>
What if there was a gathering place on Wikipedia for newer editors to find a mentor? What if we could match these editors to mentors based on their needs and goals? And what if we could do more to help editors beyond pointing them to documentation? This was the motivation behind developing a recently piloted mentorship space called '''[[WP:CO-OP|the Co-op]]''' on the English Wikipedia.
 
Line 25 ⟶ 18:
Another common theme was that newer editors seeking help were initially overwhelmed by the sheer number of help pages and felt lost. In building the Co-op, we created a system to design mentorships based on concrete topics or problems, rather than leaving them too broad or unfocused.
 
Using the Co-op is simple: editors are matched with mentors on based on how they wish to contribute, which they specify within a profile. [[Wikipedia:Co-op/Descriptions|These matching criteria]] include writing, image help, and technical work (such as syntax), among other topic areas. Editors can provide more specific details about why they are seeking mentorship within their profile as well. [[User:HostBot|A bot]] then searches and matches the editor to a mentor who has volunteered to teach in that area. The two editors are pinged using the notifications system and informed about the match, where mentorship can then begin. Editors can change their profiles at anytime based on their needs and goals. Mentors can award Co-op barnstars to editors who have achieved their goals during mentorship:
 
{| style="width:100%;"
*<div style="color:#947d78;font-family:'Glober', 'Open sans', sans-serif;text-align:center;display:block;width:101px;"> <div style="width:85px;height:85px;border-radius:42.5px;border:#dcded6 1px solid;display:block;margin:0 auto 5px;overflow:hidden;">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Writing_barnstar.svg/85px-Writing_barnstar.svg.png</div> [[c:File:Writing_barnstar.svg|Writing]] </div>
|-
*<div style="color:#947d78;font-family:'Glober', 'Open sans', sans-serif;text-align:center;display:block;width:101px;"> <div style="width:85px;height:85px;border-radius:42.5px;border:#dcded6 1px solid;display:block;margin:0 auto 5px;overflow:hidden;">https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Technical_barnstar.svg/85px-Technical_barnstar.svg.png</div> [[c:File:Technical_barnstar.svg|Technical]] </div>
*| <div style="color:#947d78;font-family:'Glober', 'Open sans', sans-serif;text-align:center;display:block;width:101px;"> <div style="width:85px;height:85px;border-radius:42.5px;border:#dcded6 1px solid;display:block;margin:0 auto 5px;overflow:hidden;">https[[File://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Images_barnstarWriting_barnstar.svg/|85px-Images_barnstar.svg.png]]</div> [[c:File:Images_barnstarWriting_barnstar.svg|ImagesWriting]] </div>
*| <div style="color:#947d78;font-family:'Glober', 'Open sans', sans-serif;text-align:center;display:block;width:101px;"> <div style="width:85px;height:85px;border-radius:42.5px;border:#dcded6 1px solid;display:block;margin:0 auto 5px;overflow:hidden;">https[[File://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/26/Technical_barnstar.svg/|85px-Technical_barnstar.svg.png]]</div> [[c:File:Technical_barnstar.svg|Technical]] </div>
*| <div style="color:#947d78;font-family:'Glober', 'Open sans', sans-serif;text-align:center;display:block;width:101px;"> <div style="width:85px;height:85px;border-radius:42.5px;border:#dcded6 1px solid;display:block;margin:0 auto 5px;overflow:hidden;">https[[File://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Writing_barnstarImages_barnstar.svg/|85px-Writing_barnstar.svg.png]]</div> [[c:File:Writing_barnstarImages_barnstar.svg|WritingImages]] </div>
|}
 
{{Signpost filler image|image=File:Co-opLanding.png|caption=Screenshot of the landing page for the [[Wikipedia:Co-op|Co-op mentorship space]] on English Wikipedia.}}
''<small>All images by Boruah, freely licensed under [[creativecommons:by-sa/4.0/deed.en|CC BY-SA 4.0.]]</small>''
 
'''[[m:Grants:IEG/Reimagining_Wikipedia_Mentorship/Final|Our final report]]''' details the outcomes of our background research in evaluating help spaces on the English Wikipedia in addition to the development and results of the Co-op pilot itself. The pilot was a one-month long experiment that brought in 49 participants to use the Co-op, and was supported by our team in addition to 25 mentors. Here are some key findings on the impact of mentorship through the Co-op:
{| class="rquote floatright" style="margin:.5em .75em;float:right;margin-right:0;border-style:none;border-collapse:collapse;width:36%;"
 
| style="color:#b2b7f2;font-size:3.3em;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-weight:bold;padding:2px;width:.5em;" |“
| style="padding:0 10px;" |The Co-op has the personal touch that helped me swim in a sea of information; I am very grateful.
| style="color:#b2b7f2;font-size:3.3em;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;font-weight:bold;padding:2px;width:.5em;vertical-align:bottom;" |”
 
|-
| class="rquotecite" style="padding-top:.3em;" colspan="3" |
— Co-op pilot participant, [[m:Grants:IEG/Reimagining_Wikipedia_Mentorship/Final#Progress_towards_stated_goals|IEG Final Report]]
 
|}
 
* Mentored editors were more productive than compared to editors who were not mentored. During the pilot, mentored editors made 7 times as many edits (35 vs. 4.5 in median edits). They also edited more articles during the pilot (10 vs. 3 on average).
Line 51 ⟶ 36:
* Despite being geared toward newer editors, the Co-op was utilized by more experienced editors who reported having positive and constructive experiences through mentorship.
 
{{Signpost filler image|image=File:Mentoring co-op.svg}}
 
Based on our findings, the Co-op appears to facilitate positive and productive experiences for editors. As such, we have reopened the Co-op for general use. Our team feels that the broader editing community can begin to take charge of the Co-op to promote its maintenance and growth. There are certainly areas where our mentorship space can be improved, some of which can be found on [[phab:tag/co-op/|our phabricator task board]]. In order for the Co-op to succeed, we also need mentors who are willing to engage with and help teach newer editors. Mentors need not be good at everything on Wikipedia, and can choose to teach only in the areas they are comfortable. If you are interested in becoming a mentor, [[WP:Co-op/Mentor landing|we invite you to sign up today]].