Talk pages consultation 2019/Program and event organizers

This is a page for program and event organizers to add your perspectives and ideas to the Talk pages consultation 2019. We want to identify a general product direction for improvements to the communication tools on wiki by June 30, 2019. (For more information, see the TPC main page.)

We're interested in hearing from program and event organizers, because you work with a wide range of wiki contributors, from very active editors to newbies who have never contributed to a wiki before. It has been difficult for us to involve new contributors in this consultation. So, we're especially interested in your experiences working with newer contributors. Of course, you can also write about your own experiences and ideas.

When we say "talk pages," we mean all the places and ways that participants use to communicate on-wiki with other people. This could mean any of the talk namespaces, a project page, a subpage, a sandbox, or any other page. It includes all the tools or systems you use on the wiki: wikitext talk pages, Structured Discussions (Flow), LiquidThreads, user scripts, gadgets, WikiLove messages, pings, Notifications, etc.

Feel free to respond to other people on this page, if you'd like: You can agree, disagree, or ask questions. We'd like to get as much information as you can share with us. If you have questions or thoughts about the consultation process, please tell us. You can write on the consultation main talk page, or ping User:DannyH (WMF) and User:Trizek (WMF). Thanks!

First: What's the program/event/group(s) that you participate in?
(We're asking this here, so you don't have to write it in other responses down the page.)

For programs where participants communicate with other people on-wiki
'''Why do participants communicate on-wiki in your program? Do they communicate with organizers, with each other, both? How often?'''

'''Do you teach participants how to use talk pages, or give them tips or instructions? What kind of information do you give them?'''

'''Do participants struggle with on-wiki communication? Do they make mistakes, or get frustrated? What kind of problems do they have?'''

'''Do participants communicate successfully on wiki? What helps them?'''

Are there features or changes to talk pages/on-wiki communication that would make your program easier or more successful?

For programs where participants don't communicate with other people on-wiki
'''Why do participants communicate in your program? Do they communicate with organizers, with each other, both? How often?'''

'''Do participants use another way to communicate? In person, email, a different website or tool? If so, why does that method work better than on-wiki communication?'''

Are there any features or changes to talk pages/on-wiki communication that would make your program more likely to use on-wiki communication?

Your own experience
When you want to talk on wiki, what tools work for you, and what problems block you?

What do you wish you could do on talk pages, but can't due to the technical limitations?

Any other thoughts or suggestions about talk pages?

Thank you for participating!