collaboration with the peer coaches, the edit-a-thons have developed and grown far beyond initial expectations. In this chapter, we will share the background and institutional context for our university and Wikipedia program; detail the collaborative efforts of library faculty, staff, and peer coaches at each stage; and share reflections and recommendations from the peer coaches themselves.
Keywords
Information literacy, Open pedagogy, Peer learning, Student employees, Student workers, Wikipedia, Wikipedia edit-a-thons
Introduction
The most rewarding thing about being involved with these amazing events is getting to help students learn a new skill. Editing Wikipedia pages is a good way for students to expand their interest in technology. I have a sense of fulfillment after teaching how to edit, find information, and publish changes that will serve a potentially large number of people.
—Vinicius Passos, Mason Undergraduate Peer Research Coach
Since spring 2018, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) University Libraries has hosted two Wikipedia edit-a-thons each year. These are organized by a planning team of three librarians, one staff member, and seven Mason Undergraduate Peer Research Coaches (known as peer coaches). The planning team is a large group with different backgrounds, ideas, strengths, and areas of expertise. At each edit-a-thon, participants are greeted and registered by a peer coach before they go to the Orientation Station to create an account and learn basic editing. Once participants feel confident, they choose whether to visit the Citation Station to add references, the Information Station to write text and add references, the Translation Station to translate Wikipedia pages between different languages, or the Creation Station to make new pages. Each station has a mix of peer coaches and library faculty and staff offering help and guidance.
