2023:Program/Submissions/Growth & Community Sustainability (English) - GYDGNW

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Title: Growth & Community Sustainability (English)

Speakers:

Alan

Alan is a Taiwanese Wikimedian who focuses primarily on Chinese Wikipedia for about three years and sometimes hop to other wikis (and make some stupid mistakes there) making contribution. He is currently a member of WikiProject Articles for Creation Reviewer and Growth Mentor for the Chinese Wikipedia community.

Pretalx link

Etherpad link

Room:

Start time:

End time:

Type: Roundtable / open discussion

Track: Equity, Inclusion, and Community Health

Submission state: submitted

Duration: 90 minutes

Do not record: true

Presentation language: en

Abstract & description

Abstract

A discussion about Growth Feature, mentors, community sustainability, and challenges.

Description

Growth Feature has been around for some years, arguably a new feature that could completely change Wikimedians' ideas about how new editors should be approached. Prior to Growth, new editors could only have their questions answered on village pump or, based off the system Welcome message, asking the user who left their signature on their talk page. This type of new editor instruction model is especially vulnerable for either assertive or naturally introverted new editors (or both!) for they would be either overconfident or shy to approach others when they have questions. In the case of assertive editors, they would naturally run themselves into trouble while shy editors are desperate for experienced editors to guide them in the universe of Wikimedia Projects.

With Growth, new editors would now be assigned to a mentor, a dedicated user who enjoys helping out new editors and watch them grow and thrive in the Wikimedia community. However, under this feature, mentors' patience and care are greatly tested: some mentors show practices like how an AFC reviewer would do: throwing comments like "see this" and walk away, leaving new editors to somehow figure it out on their own. This is just one of the many unique challenges for this new type of instruction model, and it is crucial for mentors around the world to come together and establish guidelines, in collaboration with communities and The Growth Team, to increase diversity and sustainability of the Wikimedia Movement.

Notes: - Having prior experiences of directly helping new editors are strongly recommended.

Further details

Qn. How does your session relate to the event themes: Diversity, Collaboration Future?

Diversity is a main part of this panel. Through better training and establishing guidelines for when interacting with new editors (with some tech help), diversity is promoted within the Wikimedia community as a result of more editors from different backgrounds joining the movement.

Qn. What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Some experience will be needed

Qn. What is the most appropriate format for this session?

• Onsite in Singapore
• Remote online participation, livestreamed
• Remote from a satellite event
• Hybrid with some participants in Singapore and others dialing in remotely
• Pre-recorded and available on demand