Opening up Wikimedia Content and Communities #OER17 Keynote
Lucy Crompton-Reid, the Chief Executive of Wikimedia UK, and Karaoke Queen, introduced herself to us, revealing her broad experience, and enthusiasm for Wikipedia.
Lucy was very happy when Jim Groom made this statement at OER16
She is passionate about the use of Wikipedia and associated projects in education, formal and informal. Education is a natural home for Wikimedia, and Education is a key part of Wikipedia’s strategy.
Lucy showed a video from a Wikipedia colleague
Lucy gave us examples of how Wikimedia is engaged in projects with schools, colleges, universities and libraries across the UK and elsewhere. Wikipedia can play a part in developing digital literacy.
She also highlighted the different activities that can be done in the different language instances of Wikipedia. The English Language one has over 5 million articles, while other languages have a need for content but that need offers opportunities to translate and recontextualise in young editors’ own languages.
Wikimedia are well aware of cultural and gender gaps, and works hard to address them, in order to diversify Wikipedia’s content and contribution.
Another strand of Wikimedia strategy is to advocate for change in policy and practice in institutions with whom they are involved, with the help of ambassadors eg Wikimedians-in-residence in universities.
Lucy emphasised that Open as a political act does not mean that Open is in opposition to Privacy.
She highlighted ways in which we, the audience, could get involved in events, joining Wikimedia, and attending the Wikimedia UK AGM. I attended last year’s AGM, and it was a great opportunity to meet people, learn at workshops and contribute to decisions.
The keynote was inspiring for those of us who were keen to learn more about Wikimedia through the sessions provided in the programme.
Lucy’s keynote is here.
[I promised to live blog the keynotes for OER17 as I had for OER16 but my method depended on pictures from my phone being pulled through to flickr. The wifi at the venue wasn’t up to this so the post is a combination of live and edited.]
