Category: Online Encyclopedias - Page 11

Leona Whitcombe

Userfication and Draftification on Wikipedia: Alternatives to Deletion

Userfication and draftification offer smarter alternatives to deleting Wikipedia articles. Instead of removing underdeveloped content, these methods let editors improve and restore valuable information - saving local history, niche topics, and new contributors' work.

Leona Whitcombe

Reliability Benchmarks: Comparing Wikipedia to Academic Reference Works

Wikipedia matches academic encyclopedias in accuracy for science topics, but each serves a different purpose. Learn when to use each source for research, and why the best approach combines both.

Leona Whitcombe

Retention Strategies: Mentorship, Teahouse, and Growth Features on Wikipedia

Wikipedia’s shrinking editor base is being reversed through mentorship, the Teahouse chat space, and growth features that guide newcomers. These human-centered tools are slowly changing who edits Wikipedia-and keeping more people around.

Leona Whitcombe

How to Communicate Admin Actions Clearly on Wikipedia

Clear communication from Wikipedia admins reduces conflict, builds trust, and keeps contributors engaged. Learn how to explain deletions, blocks, and edits using policy references, plain language, and personalized messages.

Leona Whitcombe

Foundation Budget Breakdown: How Wikipedia’s Spending Priorities Shape Its Tools

The Wikimedia Foundation's budget funds the tools that keep Wikipedia running - from mobile apps to AI-assisted editing. See where the money goes and how it shapes what you see every time you search.

Leona Whitcombe

Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees Elections 2025 Overview

The 2025 Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees elections determine who will guide Wikipedia's future. With global participation rising and AI ethics at stake, every vote shapes whether knowledge stays open and equitable.

Leona Whitcombe

Wikipedia Is Not a News Organization: Understanding the Philosophical Differences

Wikipedia isn't a news outlet - it doesn't break stories or chase deadlines. It waits for verified sources before updating, making it a reference tool, not a live feed. Understanding this difference helps you use it correctly.

Leona Whitcombe

Open Data Practices: Sharing Wikipedia Research Datasets and Code

Learn how to responsibly share Wikipedia research datasets and code using open data practices. Discover tools, common mistakes, and real-world examples that make research reproducible and trustworthy.

Leona Whitcombe

Wikipedia Editor Behavior Standards and Civility Requirements

Wikipedia's civility standards ensure collaborative editing by requiring editors to remain respectful, assume good faith, and resolve conflicts through policy-driven processes rather than personal attacks.

Leona Whitcombe

CheckUser Workflow on Wikipedia: How Editors Detect Vandalism with Data Limits

CheckUser is a critical but limited tool used by trusted Wikipedia editors to detect coordinated vandalism by linking accounts through technical data. It doesn't reveal identities but helps stop repeat offenders by uncovering hidden connections behind edits.

Leona Whitcombe

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism When Using Wikipedia

Using Wikipedia in academic work can lead to plagiarism if you cite it directly or paraphrase without attribution. Learn how to use it responsibly as a research tool-not a source-and how to find credible alternatives for your papers.

Leona Whitcombe

Getting Started on Toolforge for Wikipedia Bot Development

Learn how to build and deploy Wikipedia bots using Toolforge - a free, community-run platform for automated editing. Start with Python and Pywikibot, get approved, and run your bot 24/7.