CIS-A2K/Work plan July 2014 - June 2015/Creating Movement Resources
Introduction
[edit]Once CIS-A2K began actively working with the Indic Wikimedia communities, it soon realized that unlike in English there are not many Wikimedia related resources available in Indic languages. We have tried to produce some resources so far, which were mostly unplanned outcomes. However, we feel that there is an urgent need for concerted efforts to create resources to strengthen the Wikimedia movement in India and in Indic languages.
Needs Assessment
[edit]There are two important needs that we would like to highlight.
- Based on our extensive Wikipedia outreach to more than 3,500 people since September 2012, we have two important observations to share about on-boarding new editors on Indic Wikimedia projects. First, it is nearly 10 times less probable for a potential editor to start editing on any Indic Wikipedia compared to English Wikipedia. Even if a visitor to an Indic Wikipedia is super highly motivated and comes with an intent to contribute s/he is lost at the very basic level of typing in the Indic script. Many see typing in any Indic script as a huge challenge, who otherwise are comfortable using the key-board in Roman script. Second, it is 3 times more difficult to train someone to edit on Indic Wikipedia. Because most of the new editors are lost in figuring out the Wikipedia layout and the "pure" terminology of the interface. Many that we trained deeply appreciated if there is someone to hand-hold them or some resource that they could quickly refer to.
- After close interactions with many of the active Indic editors and even WP administrators, we have realized that many of them need orientation on certain fundamental concepts that underpins the open knowledge movement. For instance, many Indic Wikimedians would value if there is a simple beginners guide to Copyright and Creative Commons. There is also a need to make available some nuggets of information like "how to file a bug" in Indic languages that could go a long way in empowering the volunteer editors and strengthening the movement.
We strongly believe that creating these movement resources will go a long way in growing and strengthening the Wikimedia volunteers beyond the limits of CIS-A2K program.
About the Initiative
[edit]Under this initiative we have planned to create resources that could: a) bring new editors on board Indic Wikimedia projects; and b) benefit the existing Indic Wikimedia volunteers. The resources created to bring the new editors on board could also be used by the existing Indic Wikimedia communities and institutional partnerships, which could reduce dependency on CIS-A2K to conduct outreach.
Work done so far
[edit]During the last one year CIS-A2K has created these below resources, which were appreciated by many of the community members.
- Hindi Wikipedia editing video tutorials
- Kannada Wikipedia editing video tutorials
- Wikipedia editing manual in Telugu
- ULS video in Telugu
- Language Input guide in Odia, Konkani, Telugu, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi
We have also received requests and enquires from other language communities if and when we are working on creating some of these resources in their languages.
Implementation Plan
[edit]Some of the activities in this plan have a larger fit with the larger institutional work of CIS in the domain of Intellectual Property Rights and Openness.[1] We will be collaborating with the Pervasive Technologies program at CIS internally in executing some of these activities.
Creating Wikipedia Editing Manuals
[edit]CIS-A2K will take measures to create Wikipedia Editing manuals in some Indic languages during this year. Telugu Wikipedia Editing manual is already available.
- Plan
To translate and produce Wikipedia Editing manual in at least 4 Indic languages in which CIS-A2K is going to work.
- Execution
- Discuss with the community to collaborate translating the Welcome To Wikipedia booklet.
- If the size of the community is too small, CIS-A2K could also consider commissioning translation.
- Once the first draft is done, get the community to give feedback and finalize the draft.
- Print a sample of 100 copies to make them available as resource to the community.
- Explore possible opportunities to inaugurate these books at a formal event attended by the respective language community.
- Explore opportunities to mass distribute these manuals in collaboration with government/media/institutions.
- Projection
- Will result in Wikipedia Editing manual in 4 languages.
- Could result in mass distribution of these manuals to about 20,000 people across these 4 Indic languages.
Wikipedia Video tutorials
[edit]CIS-A2K has so far produced Wikipedia Video self-learning tutorials in Hindi and Kannada as part of its Christ University Wikipedia Education Program. These were appreciated by the Hindi and Kannada Wikimedia community. Wikimedians from other languages too suggested that CIS-A2K make such similar video tutorials available in other Indic languages.
- Plan
To produce Wikipedia Video Editing tutorials in at least 5 Indic languages in collaboration with an institutional partner.
- Execution
- Prepare series of editing tutorials like already done in Hindi and Kannada.
- Involve the community in script and designing of the tutorials.
- Explore possible opportunities to inaugurate these Video tutorials at a formal event attended by the respective language community and institutional partners.
- Explore opportunities to mass distribute these Video tutorials in collaboration with government/media/institutions.
- Projection
- Production of at least 10 video tutorials in each of the languages.
- CIS-A2K will provide 100 free copies of the video tutorials to each of the language community, which they could use for outreach.
- Could result in mass distribution of these tutorials to about 20,000 people across these 4 Indic languages.
Essential Open Knowledge Resources
[edit]During the interactions with various Indic communities we realized that there is a need to improve the understanding about the legal aspects pertaining to open knowledge among Indic Wikimedia communities. Towards this CIS-A2K will take up the following measures.
- Plan
- Create (Indian) Copyright handbook for Wikipedians in 5 Indic languages.
- Creating CC handbook in 5 Indic languages.
This activity has a major fit with CIS's larger work in the domain of Intellectual Property Rights and Openness. CIS as one of the Creative Commons affiliate also see great value in creating these open knowledge resources in Indic languages.
- Execution
- Discuss with the community to collaborate translating Copyright and CC handbook.
- If the size of the community is too small, CIS-A2K could also consider commissioning translation.
- Once the first draft is done, get the community to give feedback and finalize the draft.
- Print a sample of 100 copies to make them available as resource to the community.
- Explore possible opportunities to inaugurate these books at a formal event attended by the respective language community.
- Explore opportunities to mass distribute these manuals in collaboration with government/media/institutions.
- Projection
- Will result in Copyrights & CC manuals in 5 languages.
- Could result in mass distribution of these manuals to about 600 people across these 5 Indic languages.
Essential Wikipedia Resources
[edit]During our interactions with various Indic communities a need was expressed to have some essential Wikipedia resources made available in that respective language. While some communities are taking lead in creating these resources, it is quite a burden as most of the communities are small in size and the volunteers prefer to spend time on the Wikimedia projects. CIS-A2K would like to support the community in creating these resources.
- Plan
To create the Wikimedia resources like cheat-sheets, how to file a bug manual, how to apply for IEG, input guide and offline Wikipedia in collaboration with the respective Indic Wikimedia community.
- Execution
- Discuss with the community to collaborate on the tasks wherever possible.
- If the size of the community is too small, and CIS-A2K does not have internal capacity in any particular language, we could also consider commissioning translation.
- Once the first draft is done, get the community to give feedback and finalize the draft.
- Other than making these resources available on respective language Wikimedia projects, we will print a sample of 100 copies of each product to make them available as resource to the community to be used during outreach.
- Explore possible opportunities to release offline DVDs at a formal event attended by the respective language community.
- Explore opportunities to mass distribute these manuals and DVDs in collaboration with government/media/institutions.
- Publicize on social media.
- Projection
CIS-A2K' efforts will result in the following:
- Wikipedia cheat-sheets in 5 Indic languages.
- “How to file a bug - Wikimedia way” translated in 5 Indic languages.
- Indic input (typing tutor) guide in all Indic languages.
- Offline Wikipedia DVD (using Kiwix) in 5 Indic langugaes.
- Could result in mass distribution of offline DVDs to about 20,000 people across 5 Indic languages.
Budget & Resources
[edit]| Expenditure Item | FDC Support (INR) | FDC Support (US$) | Other Sources and in kind support (INR) | Other Sources and in kind support (US$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 PD x 10% * | 144,000/- | 2,330.04 | 81,600/- | 1,320.35 |
| 1 PM x 5% ** | 48,000/- | 776.68 | - | - |
| 4 POs *** | 451,460/- | 7304.99 | - | - |
| Consultant/Resource Persons | 60,000/- | 970.85 | - | - |
| Design/Documentation/Research | - | - | 1,000,000/- | 16,180.81 |
| Consumables/Printing/Stationery/Swag | 100,000/- | 1,618.08 | 400,000/- | 6,472.32 |
| Miscellaneous | 50,000/- | 809.04 | - | - |
| Total | 853,460/- | 13,809.67 | 1,400,000/- | 22,653.14 |
Notes:
* 10% of T. Vishnu Vardhan as Program Director, who will anchor these initiatives at CIS-A2K.
** 5% time of a Program Manager at CIS-A2K.
*** 25% time of 3 Program Officers and 10% time of one Program Officer giving at CIS-A2K to assist in execution of activities and community liaison.