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2024:Program/Learn from each other with linked data – We're developing a Wikibase instance for the Wikimedia movement's activities

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Session title: Learn from each other with linked data – We're developing a Wikibase instance for the Wikimedia movement's activities

Session type: Workshop
Track: Contributor/Community Engagement
Language: en

The Wikimedia movement needs a better way of managing information on what we have done – our partnerships, documents, events and conferences. Wikimedia Sverige has been developing a custom Wikibase instance for this purpose, and now we're inviting the community to test it in practice with their own affiliate's data.

Description

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WMSE has been developing a structured database of the chapter's events, documents and projects, using Wikibase Cloud (https://metabase.wikibase.cloud/). We're exploring the strengths and limitations of using structured data for this in comparison with our own wiki and Meta. In the long run, we hope other affiliates would like to join us with their data. This structured information will make it possible to search for the material in an unprecedented way to improve analysis and sharing of knowledge between different actors in the global Wikimedia movement. Further insights can be gained by utilizing federated queries to combine the data from Metabase with Wikidata. This will save time and effort and help to avoid duplication of work and also provide inspiration for similar projects and activities in other parts of the world.

In this workshop, we will start by presenting the Metabase project and what we have done so far. Our work initially focused on WMSE’s own data but in 2024 we expanded to also include content related to international conferences. However this means there's a risk the models and structures we've built need to be modified and expanded upon to also cover other affiliates' needs.

That's why we're looking forward to people from other affiliates to join us and do practical work on their own data in this workshop. Your own reports, educational resources, projects and partnerships. Together, we will discuss our needs and brainstorm possible insights we can get from the data. By testing our data models in practice, we will be able to understand each other's needs better and WMSE will get a better understanding of any needs for training, mentorship or technical support moving forwards. Together we can work towards building a sustainable platform that's useful for many Wikimedia actors in the years to come.

Session recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf_se76KeEA&t=16424

How does your session relate to the event theme, Collaboration of the Open?

Collaboration is at the center of the Wikimedia movement, but we've seen that the exchange of information between the many chapters and user groups is far from efficient. It's not always easy to find out whether another affiliate has done similar projects or published useful material you can re-use or learn from.

By building Metabase, we're attempting to develop a shared, open platform that will lower the threshold for everyone to truly get engaged on a global level, making it easier for affiliates to collaborate. By initially making our own achievements and resources more accessible and open, we're strengthening the global movement and making it possible for everyone to achieve even more.

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

This session is for an experienced audience

Etherpad link

https://etherpad.wikimedia.org/p/WM2024_Day2_Istanbul-_Room_10

Resources

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Speakers

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  • Alicia Fagerving
Alicia Fagerving is a developer at Wikimedia Sverige, working primarily with Linked Open Data and partnerships. They've been involved in developing the Content Partnerships Hub (https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Content_Partnerships_Hub), with the goal of lowering the thresholds for Wikimedians and affiliates around the world to do great partnerships.
  • André Costa
Employed by Wikimedia Sverige since 2013. I first started working as GLAM-technician which later evolved into a role as Developer and Senior developer. Since 2017 I work as Chief Operating Officer.
Active Wikimedian since 2006 editing under the username Lokal_Profil.