Promoting Digital Literacy in Irish
Our initiative focuses on equipping students with essential digital skills to be resilient to misinformation while fostering engagement with social issues like gender equality. By empowering students to create reliable content in both English and Irish, we enhance digital literacy and promote resilience against disinformation campaigns. This is done through the creation of high quality content online. Attendees learn what constitutes reliable and valid sources of information by adding to the world’s largest and most reliable encyclopedia in Irish.
Participants will learn to identify and produce credible content. This is done positively by contributing to a global audience through Wikipedia. Wikipedia is the world’s most visited academic resource. With 9 out of 10 of online researchers starting with Wikipedia, this program has a unique impact at reducing the spread of misinformation. Students gain an understanding of what is credible truthful information as a practical learning-by-doing activity. Our curriculum, which was designed-for and designed-by Irish secondary schools, universities, and language institutions, guides students to create high-quality, verifiable content that is immediately accessible to their peers and the international community. Attendees of our courses learn to author encyclopedic content. Encyclopedic content is written from a neutral point of view. This means that it must be verified by and attributed to a reliable source, as well as being presented fairly, proportionately, and as far as possible, without editorial bias. In doing so, learning to identify credible content through hands-on creation and publication of meaningful content.
This program has already made a positive impact on students within Ireland and across Europe. With a particular emphasis on the Irish language, participants enhance their own digital literacy and create reliable information about local cultural issues. Under the guidance of our experts, students will focus on researching topics that are of interest to themselves or are asked to support our efforts to focus on notable women and their contributions. Our program has resulted in many new encyclopedia pages which enriching the representation of women in Irish history, science, and culture.
If our vision and work seem inspiring to you please get involved! You can email us at: info@wikimedia.ie
Objectives
- Enhance Digital Literacy: Equip participants with essential skills to navigate digital platforms effectively, assess credible sources, and improve online research abilities while using their minority language.
- Combat Misinformation: Through writing and editing Wikipedia articles, students will develop critical skills to discern trustworthy information, verify facts, and recognize biases, thereby building resilience against “fake news.”
- Promote Multilingualism: Emphasize the importance of minority languages in the digital age by encouraging participants to contribute to Wikipedia in Irish, boosting representation and fostering community identity.
- Encourage Social Engagement: Collaborate with schools, Wikipedia foundations, and language organizations to engage participants in improving online content, advocating for gender equality, and highlighting women’s visibility in Irish culture.
Expected Outcomes: High-Quality Wikipedia Articles in Irish
Our program aims to produce well-researched, reliable Wikipedia articles in Irish that adhere to established quality criteria:
- Well-Written: Articles will be clear, concise, and accessible, following proper spelling and grammar conventions.
- Verifiable: Content will be supported by reliable sources, avoiding original research and plagiarism to ensure academic integrity.
- Comprehensive: Each article will provide a balanced overview of its topic, addressing significant points without unnecessary detail.
- Neutral: Articles will represent diverse viewpoints, fostering an unbiased understanding of the subjects discussed.
- Stable: Content will be designed to minimize frequent changes, maintaining the integrity of the information.
- Illustrated: Where appropriate, articles will include relevant media, adhering to copyright requirements.
Overall Impact
The successful output of this program will enrich the online presence of the Irish language and provide reliable resources for readers. By producing high-quality content, we aim to combat misinformation and promote digital literacy within the community. Participants will emerge as confident contributors, capable of navigating the digital landscape and engaging in meaningful discourse around misinformation, gender equality, and cultural representation. This initiative addresses critical issues while fostering sustainable educational frameworks through collaboration with schools and GLAM institutions.
Who We Are
Wikimedia Community Ireland’s Mission:
- Assist and encourage the collection, development, and dissemination of educational, cultural, and historical content in the public domain.
- Promote the accessibility of holdings from public and private galleries, libraries, archives, and museums across Ireland.
- Collaborate with cultural and educational institutions to preserve Ireland’s heritage.
- Advocate for the use of free and open-source information resources to enhance education.
- Support the development of materials in all languages of Ireland, particularly Irish.
- Help safeguard and promote the Irish language.
If our vision and work seem inspiring to you please get involved! You can email us at: info@wikimedia.ie
Partners
WikiWomen (https://www.wikiwomen.eu/) promotes gender equality and empowering women across various sectors. It serves as a platform for sharing knowledge, resources, and best practices related to women’s rights and gender issues. The initiative aims to connect women and support their participation in decision-making processes, fostering a more inclusive society.
WikiWomen Erasmus+ Project – Meta The WikiWomen Erasmus+ Project aims to enhance gender equality and promote the visibility of women in various fields through educational initiatives. It focuses on engaging secondary school students in creating and improving Wikipedia articles about notable women, particularly in minority language contexts. The project provides a comprehensive toolkit for teachers, which includes lesson plans, resources for research, and guidance on using Wikipedia as a learning tool. The initiative emphasizes the development of digital skills, research capabilities, and awareness of gender issues among students, fostering a more inclusive representation of women in knowledge platforms like Wikipedia.
You can contact us at: info@wikimedia.ie