Cancer Research UK Workshop

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Cancer Research UK have requested a Wikipedia Academy, following from the success of the Wikimedia Foundation's National Institutes of Health Wikipedia Academy in 2009. The academy will be in two parts. First, a presentation-format introduction to Wikipedia lasting around 2 hours, potentially being run on 31 January 2011. Second, a workshop-format hands-on Academy lasting for a full day, potentially being run on 28 March 2011. Both parts will take place at CRUK's Angel office.

Participants

• Mike Peel
• Alex Bateman
• Darren Logan
• Paul Gardner
• Magnus Manske
• Martin Poulter
• Andrew Turvey

Presentation plan

The presentation should be broad enough to interest both those wanting to edit themselves, and those wanting general background information on Wikipedia and how it works.

1. What is Wikipedia/Wikimedia?

   Generally overviewing the different projects, their reach, 'featured articles', who are Wikimedians, etc.

2. What makes a Wikipedia article?

   Going through the various components in a featured article, perhaps also a stub. Covering the principles that go into each article (NPOV, RS, etc.)

3. Current coverage of cancer research / other related topics on Wikipedia

   Some hit rates from enwiki: 9k hits per day (3 million a year!) for Cancer, 3.5k for Chemotherapy, 2.5k per day for Oncology

   Statistics of the articles; skimming through some examples (audience-selected perhaps?); introducing relevant Wikiprojects; etc. – Medicine (incl. Hematology-oncology task force), Biology, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Pharmacology

   Should also cover Rfam etc.

4. The basics of adding information to articles, and other ways to help improve articles

   using the 'edit' button, referencing material (WP:MEDRS), WP:MEDICAL, adding material, etc. In enough depth to show what's involved and how to make a start, but not too detailed

   Also: keeping a watchlist, reviewing, suggesting refs/improvements via Talk, sharing sources/images

5. How to avoid common pitfalls and interact with others

   Common problems, e.g. copyright of images, Conflicts of Interest, content disagreements (particularly public vs. experts), etc.. How to ask for help, and more generally interact with other editors.

6. Q&A

Confirmed attendees: Darren, Magnus, Mike, Martin, Paul.

Workshop plan

TBD. This session will be aimed at those wanting to directly edit Wikipedia. Advanced planning of which articles could be worked on during the session, and preparation of materials by participants, would be useful.

• Experience suggests getting participants to create an account in advance is helpful.
• A modified form of these training pages could perhaps be used during in the workshop.