Hi all,
Thanks, Harry! We need to recognize that students use Wikipedia. With prior approval of the instructor, I demonstrate Wikipedia to students during some library instruction sessions. Wikipedia contains an article on Using Wikipedia for Research which begins, "Wikipedia can be a great tool for learning and researching information. However, as with all reference works, not everything in Wikipedia is accurate, comprehensive, or unbiased."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Researching_with_Wikipedia
Best,
Nancy Cannon, Milne Library
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jagels, Fredric ([log in to unmask])
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 8:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Wikipedia
BRAVO! Harry,
I've been steering students to Wikipedia for several years. I tell them that Wikipedia (and Google for that matter) are part of the two step process of research- working knowledge and deeper knowledge. The "surface" knowledge afforded provides keywords for a deeper search (library data base) as well as some basic idea of some opinions on their topic. The fact that every Wikipedia entry has links and sources at the bottom is also a good next step for research. Without the more specific vocabulary a database (peer review) search can be very frustrating.
One experiment I suggest to doubters is look up something they have some knowledge about in Wikipedia and see if the information is good. I have found it to be so generally. I've even had the opportunity to correct/augment entries about which I knew something (last year manufacture of a particular model of motorcycle and some U.S. State Department information I was privy to).
If I remember correctly, at one of the TB's someone mentioned an assignment to create or add to a Wikipedia entry. Wouldn't that require critical reading, research, writing...
Rick
Rick Jagels
Education Specialist
College Assistance Migrant Program
111 Wilsbach Hall
State University of NY College at Oneonta
(607)436-2297
[log in to unmask]
From: Teaching Breakfast List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pence, Harry ([log in to unmask])
Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 8:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Wikipedia
Dear Friends,
I sense a shift in the attitudes with respect to Wikipedia. This article is only the latest example.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/11/18/sociology-association-encourages-members-help-improve-wikipedia
Based on surveys I have seen, students commonly use Wikipedia as a starting point for the research process in order to explore unfamiliar topics. That is exactly what one of the professors suggests that he does in this article. Is it time higher education told students how to best use Wikipedia, instead of bemoaning the face that it is not a peer-reviewed journal?
Harry
Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta
|
