Collaboration and Collaborative Learning in the Free Knowledge Movement: Our Internship Experience at Wikimedia Indonesia

The free knowledge movement is a global effort to make knowledge accessible to everyone, regardless of who they are, where they are, or what their background is. It is built on the belief that knowledge should be free, open, and co-created by communities worldwide. As interns at Wikimedia Indonesia, we had the incredible opportunity to contribute to this mission, and through our work, we learned firsthand the power of collaboration, community, and open knowledge.

During our internship, we worked on a variety of projects aimed at expanding access to free knowledge in Indonesia. These included contributing to Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikibooks and Wikisource. One of the most exciting aspects of our work was the chance to collaborate with a diverse group of people—educators and volunteers—who shared our passion for making knowledge freely available to all.

Besides that, other interesting things we learned during this experience was the importance of collaborative learning and community-driven knowledge creation. Unlike traditional models where knowledge is created by a select few and distributed to the masses, the free knowledge movement thrives on the collective efforts of many. For example, during a session of WikiLatih, we saw how people from different backgrounds came together to share their expertise and gather in an environment where we learned together about editing and making articles on topics we were interested in. This experience showed us how powerful collaboration can be in creating knowledge that is both accurate and inclusive.

Online WikiLatih courses provided insights into the Wikimedia movement and Wikipedia’s policies and guidelines,  such as article eligibility, references, paraphrasing, writing style, and neutral point of view (NPOV). Practical experience in editing Wikipedia articles began with user page creation to editing and creating Wikipedia articles. This included making small edits, such as fixing punctuation, adding internal links, and correcting typos, as well as more substantial edits like paraphrasing content and adding references. The challenge of creating new Wikipedia articles for the first time resulted in two successfully published articles, offering valuable insight into the effort required to produce well-researched content.

Another focus was contributing to Wikisource by proofreading Reading WIkipedia in the Classroom modules in Indonesian Wikisource. This introduced the process of editing source texts and utilizing various formatting codes, such as inserting images, tables, and text boxes. While initially challenging, this task became increasingly familiar and rewarding, particularly when seeing correctly formatted text appear in preview mode. After completing the proofreading process, we hope that the readings will be useful for everyone who needs the modules to learn about Wikipedia or utilizing various formatting codes in Wikisource.

Another significant aspect of the internship was translation work. Scripts for the A Wiki Minute video series, which presents Wikipedia facts in one-minute segments, were translated from English for Indonesian audiences. Additionally, books in Indonesian Wikibooks, specifically children’s stories belonging to public domain works, were translated. In addition to translations in ready-to-read text form, we also provide spoken versions of articles that are accessible to all. 

The lessons from this internship are applicable across the Wikimedia community and beyond. Whether editing Wikipedia, proofreading on Wikisource, creating new articles, or translating stories on Wikibooks, collaboration, inclusivity, and community-driven knowledge creation remain essential principles. To support others in their work, we have documented some of the things we have done during our internship, which you can look at here: Gajah Kecil Mengunjungi Peternakan, 22 July (film), The Mother’s Love, The Angel. Additionally, you can explore some of the resources we created, such as Audio Gajah Kecil Mengunjungi Peternakan, Sawah Kab.Purworejo to see the tangible results of our collaborative efforts.

As we reflect on our time at Wikimedia Indonesia, we’re left with a question: How can we continue to grow the free knowledge movement and make it even more inclusive and impactful? We invite you to share your ideas, experiences, or questions in the comments or consider joining a Wikimedia project in your area. Whether you’re a seasoned editor or a newcomer, there’s a place for you in this movement. Together, we can ensure that knowledge remains free and accessible to all, now and in the future. 

Here are some documentations from our journey, just a small part of the many moments we’ve had: