Tips and Tricks from the Digital Humanities team at the University of Delaware on event planning for a Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon.

1. Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
Resources
Tracy H. Jentzsch, M.A.
Media Specialist, University of Delaware
tracyjentzsch@gmail.com @Tracy_Jentzsch
Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0

2. Evaluating
Evaluating Wikipedia brochure.pdf
Tracing the evolution and evaluating the quality of articles

3. Editing
Editing Wikipedia brochure.pdf
Basic introduction to how to edit Wikipedia

4. Illustrating
Illustrating Wikipedia brochure.pdf
Introducing newcomers to Wikimedia Commons and how
they can contribute to it

5. Setting up the Edit-A-Thon
Event Pages
Creating a Wikipedia MeetUp SubPage:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Meetup
For GLAMS, Create a Wikipedia MeetUp Page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:GLAM

6. Setting up the Edit-A-Thon
Attendees
• Create a simple sign up – like EventBrite
• Invite local Wikipedia Users
• Contact your local WikiMedia Chapter
• Create a GeoNotice
• Invite everyone – over invite

7. Setting up the Edit-A-Thon
Advertise
• Use Social Media
• Submit to SignPost (Wikipedia’s
Newsletter)
• Blog about it (or submit to blogs)
• Listservs
• Direct EMail
• Send out press releases

8. Setting up the Edit-A-Thon
Pre-Event
• Create a list of material for people to
work on
• Sign people in, capture data
• Put up signage for the event
• Provide handouts with Wikipedia
information, shortcuts
• Encourage participants to set up an
account BEFORE the event

9. Setting up the Edit-A-Thon
During the Event
• Consider offering a 1 hour “How-To”
session prior to your event
• Have experienced editors on hand to help
newbies
• There will always be tech issues- be
prepared
• Designate people or an area folks can go
for help
• Take pictures – get permission – post to
Wikimedia Commons

10. Setting up the Edit-A-Thon
Post Event
• Write a report – what you did right, wrong –
if you do this again
• Thank everyone involved
• Get a list of the articles edited or created.
Be sure to include these on your Event
page.

11. Setting up the Edit-A-Thon
Social Media
• Use Social Media!
• Register your event #Hashtag on TWUBS
• Post your #Hashtag before, during and
after your event and encourage everone to
use it
• After the event, create a STORIFY

12. UD Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
2014 Case Study
• On Saturday, April 26th 2014 The University
of Delaware held it’s first Wikipedia Edit-A-
Thon.
• Theme: Women & People of Color

13. UD Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
2014 Case Study
• First time event
• Over 50 people attended
• More then ½ - first time users
• Faculty, staff, grad & undergrad students
• Community members

14. UD Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
2014 Case Study
Content provided by:
• UD’s Colored Conventions Project
(#CoCoWiki)
• UD’s Emancipation Project
Event Sponsors:
UD ISE Lab
UD College of Arts & Sciences IHRC
UD Department of History & History Media Center
UD Department of English
UD Morris Library

15. UD Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
2014 Case Study
Our Team:
Jim Casey, English Ph.D. candidate
jccasey@udel.edu @jimccasey1
Audrey Hamelers, Digital Humanities Librarian
hamelers@udel.edu @shockandaudrey
Jordan Howell, English Ph.D. candidate
jmhowell@udel.edu @JordanMHowell
Tracy Jentzsch, Media Specialist, Dept. of History
jentzsch@udel.edu @Tracy_Jentzsch@MMOckerbloom
Workshop Presenter:
Mary Mark Ockerbloom, Wikipedian-in-Residence, Chemical Heritage Foundation
MOckerbloom@chemheritage.org @MMOckerbloom

16. UD Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon
2014 Case Study
Our Wikipedia Event Page
Wikipedia:Meetup/University of Delaware/April 2014 Colored Conventions