World War I/World War I Editathon

Enthusiastic Wikimedians on the train towards the Front

Our first World War I Editathon will be held on 16 June 2012 in London. Organised jointly with JISC, the UK’s expert body on digital technologies for education and research, the Editathon will bring the Wikipedia military history community together with experts from academia. Our goal is not only to improve Wikipedia articles on World War I topics, but also to build bridges between Wikimedians and academics. This is the first of Wikimedia UK's events aimed at commemorating the centenary of World War I, and we hope it will be the first of many events over coming years.

Details of venue and timings will be confirmed shortly. Space will be limited, so please sign up now!

Event details

• Who: Wikimedians with an interest in World War I in particular and military history in general; invited academics and experts in the subject matter.
• When: Saturday 16 June 2012. Times TBC but it will be an all-day event
• Where: Provisionally at the Wikimedia UK offices, will be confirmed nearer the time
• Cost: Free to attend. Wikimedia UK will cover travel expenses for Wikimedians who want to sign up.
• Contact: Contact Chris Keating, chris.keating at wikimedia.org.uk or on-wiki: The Land (talk)

Metadata

Wikimedia UK World War I Editathon 2012-06-16 http://uk.wikimedia.org/wiki/World_War_I/World_War_I_Editathon

What will we be editing?

We will aim to focus the Editathon around three areas of World War I which JISC have identified as under-represented in digital resources (on the Internet in general rather than Wikipedia in particular). These areas are:

• Strategy and Operations
• Medicine and World War I
• Global impact of the War

Work on any aspect of World War I will be welcome, but particularly welcome if it touches on one of these 3 areas. If you have particular articles you'd like to work on, then it would be great if you could let us know when you sign up, so we can let our academics know in advance!

Online participation will certainly be possible.

What resources will be available?

We'll have access to a number of experts in the field, who will be keen to help make Wikipedia articles better, so this will be a great opportunity to work with a real expert in the subject to help improve your articles! We'l also have a fair number of World War I books available (and you're encouraged to bring some of your own!), as well as being able to signpost people towards key sources and existing content.

Sign up here

Space will be limited, so please sign up now with your username! It would be great if you could let us know your area of interest, and even better if there are particular articles you'd like to work on (preferably, but not necessarily in the areas listed above).

1. The Land (talk) 18:22, 11 April 2012 (UTC) (organiser) - I'm particularly interested in naval warfare and military doctrine, the thing I'd most like to edit is Wikipedia's coverage of infantry doctrine, which is in dire need of improvement.
2. Andy Mabbett (User:Pigsonthewing); Andy's talk; Andy's edits 18:55, 11 April 2012 (UTC) - general interest; happy to advise on templates & QRpedia especially.
3. With great pleasure. "Global impact" sounds an interesting field to look at - demographic impacts particularly. Shimgray (talk) 22:44, 11 April 2012 (UTC)
4. 1917 on the western front, particularly the operational and organisational aspects. (Keith-264)77.86.102.50 08:01, 12 April 2012 (UTC)77.86.102.50 08:01, 12 April 2012 (UTC)