2015/Unconference

This page is to record ideas for the proposed Unconference sessions for the last day of Wikiconference -- October 11, 2015.

Beyond the edit-a-thon

Idea in one sentence: What are new models of meetups that go beyond the edit-a-thons that are our current mainstay?
Proposed by: Fuzheado (talk), User:Kosboot, others
Format: brainstorming, design thinking, two hours
Resources requested: projector, sticky notes, whiteboard, tables

How might we engage like-minded institutions besides our traditional GLAM partners like museums and libraries?
- Go to academic or professional conferences with booths/clinics?
How might we create a meetup that is branded better than "edit-a-thon"?
- Edit-a-thon terminology. The more you think about the term "edit-a-thon" the more you realize it's actually problematic for outreach. What are do people associate with the term "thon?" A marathon is for an elite runner, where you need lots of endurance and training to participate. No novice would ever consider signing up for a marathon. Is that problematic in recruiting novice editors to come to a Wikipedia "edit-a-thon?" As for walk-a-thons, they are typically ways to raise money and makes an "ask" of ordinary folks to pledge money for each mile walked. Are Wikipedia "edit-a-thons," then, fundraisers? No they're not. My fear is that we as Wikipedians are so accustomed and close to the term edit-a-thon that we are blind to how it comes off for public outreach. I don't have a solution in mind, but I'd like to open the conversation about how we might do it better.
- WikiClinic - allow people to come in for face-to-face "office hours" and experienced Wikipedians can give advice on BLP or articles with problems? Do this in partnership with professional organizations or academic conferences?
Add your ideas here

Idea in one sentence: How can we work with the Internet Archive Wayback Machine to automatically fix dead link/link rot problems on Wikipedia?
Proposed by: Fuzheado (talk), Jake Johnson (Internet Archive)
Format: hack-a-thon style session, half day
Resources requested: tables, small room, Internet, power

Description: Link rot is one of the biggest problems in Wikipedia. Starting in 2015, the Internet Archive is watching the recent changes feed of Wikipedia to automatically archive the external links added to Wikipedia articles. But how can we make the archival versions available for users and editors in a seamless and pleasing way? What kind of developer or community support do we need for this?
Interested parties

Help improve Wikidata, learn how to use some of the tools available like Magnus' autolist and find tasks to work on.
Add your ideas here

Idea in one sentence: Hands-on editing Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) mapping.
Proposed by: Aude
Format: 2-3 hours?
Resources requested: projector, tables

Help improve OpenStreetMap and specifically help with remote mapping efforts to support needs of the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT). We will work on tasks using the HOT tasking manager [1]. HOT partners with organizations such as the American Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and local communities in other countries, to support projects and emergency response efforts. There always are ongoing needs for mapping.