Do you work with linked data or teach data literacy? Are you looking to increase the impact of your collections? Do you need new methods of gaining insights about your data and tools for visualizing those findings? Are you just curious about the open data movement?
If you answered yes to any of the above, Wikidata is important and relevant to you. Our upcoming online courses dive into how Wikidata functions. In them, we’ll help you apply open data practices to your particular professional goals.
Participants in these courses meet virtually to learn how to use, as well as contribute to, the global data repository that is Wikidata. Each course is six weeks and includes one hour synchronous sessions with peers, as well as access to hands-on support and technical training from Wikidata experts.
Registration for courses beginning in September and October is now open!
Join the Open Data Movement
An online course for those new to linked data, or for those looking for a curriculum that covers data ethics, the advantages of linked data, and an overview of Wikidata policies.
- Register here for: Tuesdays 10-11am PST, September 17 – October 22, 2019
- Register here for: Tuesdays 1-2pm PST , October 22 – November 26, 2019
Elevate your Collections
An online course for anyone already familiar with linked data or Wikidata, or those looking for a project-based course that explores specific Wikidata tools and approaches.
- Register here for: Wednesdays 11am-12pm PST, September 18 – October 23, 2019
- Register here for: Mondays 11am-12pm PST, October 21 – November 25, 2019
Why Wikidata?
“Contributing to Wikidata has a ripple effect. It’s a great way for institutions to contribute our resources to a wide variety of communities and meet users where they already are.” – past course participant
Wikidata is the centralized, linked data repository for all Wikimedia projects. It’s machine readable, which means that digital assistants, AI, bots, and scripts can interact with Wikidata’s structured, linked data. (And they do!) Software uses this open data repository to answer your questions, provide more context when you search, and link you to related sources in an efficient way. Because the repository is still growing, Wikidata presents powerful opportunities for professionals to get involved across industries. Here are just a few applications:
If you work in civic data
Amplify your data through Wikidata. By contributing to Wikidata digital assistants, stable URLs, and existing linked data will allow for more people to access, interpret, and share your data. In coming years Wikidata will have an impact on government agencies – local, state, and federal. By contributing civic data holdings to the public repository, you can educate the public about information that matters to them. Get involved!
If you work in museums or libraries
Wikidata will have an impact on research, metadata production, collection visibility, representing information in a more equitable way, and will enrich works by connecting them to related linked data. Wikidata can enhance your collection with new information including identifiers and references in hundreds of languages.
The Library of Congress tracks items in Wikidata, making it an authority whose reliability has improved significantly in recent years. The ARL, IFLA, and the PCC have all identified Wikidata as being of strategic importance to librarians. And the Met, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and MOMA have already taken advantage of Wikidata. Join them!
For more information about our Wikidata offerings and customizable options, visit data.wikiedu.org.
