Wikimedia in the classroom: New learning skills for strategized library and information science training

Abstract

The information society has become sophisticated that it requires regular professional updates on new skills and learning to navigate the roles of service delivery. One of the skills that define the LIS educators in imparting the career-ready students for the services ahead is the Wikimedia digital literacy skill. This is because Wikipedia has the capacity for faculty and community participation, information and digital literacies, inputting language skills, preservation of oral history and cultural heritage. Therefore, this paper highlighted the new learning and skills of Wikimedia, level of the awareness of using Wikimedia and the lessons learned after the facilitation of Wikimedia. This was a qualitative study. The participants comprised 22 LIS professionals of members of the Nigerian Library Association, Anambra State Chapter during the African Library Week #1Lib1Ref campaign. The study was carried out at Professor Kenneth Dike Central e-Library Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. The instruments used were facilitation and discussion group. It was discovered that over 70% of the participants were not aware of the roles of Wikimedia. However, they signed up and gained new knowledge of information and digital skills while using Wikimedia which enabled them to participate in the African Library Week of #1Lib1Ref and contribute to improving articles with authentic and accurate sources to Wikimedia. The study recommended that librarians should collaborate and connect with other Wikipedia user groups to attract grants and expertise for enhanced capacity building.