How to Organize a One-page Wikipédia Editathon ?

Our library hosted an editathon workshop to create and develop the Wikipédia page Jeu de rôle sur table au Québec (tabletop role-playing games in Quebec). Here is my report of the event.

Preparation

1. Use this dashboard to record the contributions and avoid IP address ban. Example.
2. If the page doesn't exist yet :
1. Write a short paragraph to introduce the page, without source (keep it for the demo in the workshop).
2. Create all the pertinent sections and sub-sections.
3. In the source code of the page.
1. At the beginning, add the banner
   

   {{under construction |placedby=username|2018-10-24}}

2. At the end of the page, add categories and portals.
3. In Discussion, explain the page is part of a editathon workshop. Example.
3. Prepare sources (and sourcerers!).
1. URL in a shared folder.
2. PDF in a shared folder.
3. Encylopedias & dictionaries.
4. Books.
5. (one or more librarians to help find and assess sources).

Editathon workshop

1. Receive your guests. Ask them to
1. Connect with their Wikipédia account
2. Subscribe the Dashboard with an URL placed in a txt file in a shared folder
2. Demonstration
1. Short introduction (max. 5-10 min.) on : how to write, how to cite and how to link pages.
2. How to cite: Take a source you prepared for the short introduction paragraph. Show how to make an automatic citation + modify to improve it. Cancel. Then show how to make a manual citation. Publish with documenting what was done, insisting it is important.
3. You are the editor
1. Ask who wants to edit what.
2. Ask them to click on Modify for the selected section, not for the whole page (because everybody is on it).
3. Ask them to compose their text in the notepad software, then copy-paste it when finished to reduce the time the page is on hold.
4. Go!

Final notes

• Everybody can come and go and leave.
• Some people will edit at the same time but remotely, they are mostly admins who supervise and verify what's going on.
• Thanks to the scanned archives of the BAnQ !
• Thanks to Catherine Bernier, Raymonde Champagne, Benjamin Constantineau et Mathieu Thomas for your help !
• After 2h of workshop, the page was born. It weighted 1800 words and 24 sources. The parents are expecting a Featured article ★ status within one year.