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Let's Put Policies �in Peoples' Hands

Peter Pelberg�Editing Team

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Edit Check

Offer people actionable feedback about policies while they are editing

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Edit Check

Prompt people to add sources when they forget to do so

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Two years ago…

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Two years ago…

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Situation

Interfaces do not make people aware of the policies they are expected to follow

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Situation

Guidance comes at inopportune times��…too soon, too late, or not at all

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Impact

Newcomers feel unwelcome and question whether Wikipedia is a place where they belong

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Impact

Experienced volunteers repeat themselves and grow tired

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What has happened�since 2021?

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Community Conversations

Hosted community calls each month, for the past 11 months

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Findings

References are necessary and not sufficient

✔️

Learn by doing

📖

Encourage interaction

💬

No firm rules

🚫

"If not us, �then who?"

🔎

Explicitness is Important

📍

Help is hard to find

🧭

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Findings

Moment 1

PROOFREADING

Moment 2

PUBLISHING

Moment 3

SUMMARIZING

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Hypothesis

If we surface relevant feedback in the moments when people are editing Wikipedia, and equip them with the know-how and tools necessary to act on this guidance…��…they will make changes they are proud of and the people reviewing edits consider valuable

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Evaluating Success

Proportion of new content edits that are reverted

Proportion of new content edits that include references

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Where are now?

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Sequence

Development

First Release

Refinement

Design

Research

Doodle source: Pau Giner's hand

Research

Design

Development

Refinement

Release

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Plan

Editing

Moderation

Moderation

Today

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Plan

Editing

Moderation

Moderation

Today

This year

Policy-aware Editing

Moderation

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Try it out for yourself

  1. Visit:
  2. Tap any edit pencil to start an edit, using the Visual Editor
  3. Add a 2-3 sentences of new text
  4. Publish the edit

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Getting involved

receive updates

join community calls

[[mw:Edit check]]

[[mw:Editing team/Community Conversations]]

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