tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post1188986108823117279..comments2023-10-26T04:38:06.297-04:00Comments on TeachPaperless: The Wikipedia DilemmaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14091328599818819777noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-16038165773340476482012-04-06T00:28:00.871-04:002012-04-06T00:28:00.871-04:00In case anyone stumbles back on this post, here...In case anyone stumbles back on this post, here's a link to a contrary point of view from the higher ed world: http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2011/12/23/the-case-against-wikipedia-in-the-classroom/SenorGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14138593719409113809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-51862427496522692362011-12-24T11:38:03.169-05:002011-12-24T11:38:03.169-05:00I'm an experienced Wikipedia editor, and a Wik...I'm an experienced Wikipedia editor, and a Wikipedia article itself should never be considered a reliable source. We don't allow one Wikipedia article to be used as a source for another Wikipedia article. Instead, students should be encouraged to read the truly reliable sources listed as references at the bottom of any well-written article. Then they should seek out other high-quality sources, and see if different conclusions can be drawn. That could lead to the student improving the Wikipedia article, a genuine benefit to accessible human knowledge.Cullen328https://www.blogger.com/profile/11649203982398021846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-3965882101920323612011-11-26T19:40:21.614-05:002011-11-26T19:40:21.614-05:00Great post. It is true: the most important thing f...Great post. It is true: the most important thing for students is to learn how to distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources. This is no easy task with the huge amount of information that gets thrown at us every second, from every direction. As teachers we should indeed do more to help our students develop a set of skills that will help them navigate this storm of information for the rest of their lives. I am myself a Wikipedia fan, but I agree it should be used with caution and never as the only source.Geoannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12189072724929310546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-45701918066325875592011-11-26T15:22:40.147-05:002011-11-26T15:22:40.147-05:00I think this is a great article that you wrote. It...I think this is a great article that you wrote. It is full of goo information and examples to back up your statements. Grammatically, it seems to flow very well and I don't see any obvious mistakes. I am finally coming to the realization that I need to learn to use the web for my research. Great job.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-3336872505315636642011-11-25T21:26:40.034-05:002011-11-25T21:26:40.034-05:00Nicely considered post, Noah.
I agree with the co...Nicely considered post, Noah.<br /><br />I agree with the consensus that Wikipedia is a great place to begin but then I always direct my students to look for the annotated bibliographies at the bottom of each entry for their citable sources. You're also right that the purpose of the research paper must constantly be examined. It is important that it be used as an exercise for organizing thoughts, learning new information and analyzing sources of information. It is essential for the creation of new ideas and information and one that I fear is endangered by the testing mentality of the past few decades. Common Core Standards, however, give reason to hope in the future.Jason Wagnernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-17315535671747622722011-11-25T17:22:47.868-05:002011-11-25T17:22:47.868-05:00Yes, Wikipedia is a great resource! I use it all t...Yes, Wikipedia is a great resource! I use it all the time for pretty much everything.<br /><br />That said, as a teacher I will NOT and probably NEVER will permit its use as an authoritative source (the same way I also do not permit the use of encyclopedias as sources unless it is for trivial facts). Students ask me where to find information. I tell them "Start with Wikipedia" and they respond with "But sir, you don't allow us to use it." and I respond with "You can use it! You can't use it as a source. Use Wikipedia to find the original source for the information, verify the information and cite THAT source."<br /><br />Writing articles like these is easy since they're 'cutting edge' and are critical of the old guard. Yes, we do want to teach our students "how to learn" but the problem is that too many teachers take this to heart and pump out students who lack KNOWLEDGE. <br /><br />Recently a high school chemistry student asked why he needed to learn the charges and names of polyatomic ions. In response, I asked him to explain to me how he was able to ask me that question without the use of a dictionary? Since he is bright and had once upon a blue moon heard my spiel about chemistry being a language he very quickly put two and two together to figure out that there was value in learning polyatomic ions AND their charges. Yes, you can look things up, but if you don't have an INTRINSIC store of knowledge you likely won't be able to do a whole lot of anything with only your SKILLS!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-18448835811679506762011-11-25T15:29:08.103-05:002011-11-25T15:29:08.103-05:00Great post Noah!
The great thing about Wikipedia i...Great post Noah!<br />The great thing about Wikipedia is that people can correct wrong information. A good excersize for a student would be to find a mistake, submit a correction and have a credible source associated with the correction. That would enrich the world of information and teach critical thinking.Daniel Aizenmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-79938582469257276392011-11-25T11:04:31.851-05:002011-11-25T11:04:31.851-05:00I like having students evaluate the sources refere...I like having students evaluate the sources referenced in Wikipedia. On a recent Nerdist podcast, one Wikipedian talked about the fact that ideally, information should be referenced elsewhere. As a librarian, I agree that students should learn evaluation skills. Otherwise, they'll believe anything. Nice post!Wendy Copenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-6900536511424720792011-11-24T18:36:27.456-05:002011-11-24T18:36:27.456-05:00great to see this debate ongoing - spent a long ti...great to see this debate ongoing - spent a long time thinking and writing about this before new job took over my life. there's a lot more to add to the discussion, ranging from the philosophical (the nature of knowledge, 'correct' vs popular conviction etc) to the practical (occasions when Wikipedia is a unique source, which links to the build and background functionality of the site and its writing and editing community). <br /><br />Got to stop or I'll never get to bed, but happy to see this topic alive!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029419017923677229.post-26517815579643132862011-11-24T18:28:48.481-05:002011-11-24T18:28:48.481-05:00If Wikipedia is the only source, then the subject ...If Wikipedia is the only source, then the subject has not been thoroughly researched. It can serveas a source. Research and reporting has always been about getting the story from more than one view. Reading and evaluating research has always been about analyzing the bibliography.Dan McGuirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17165245665212961209noreply@blogger.com