Wiki and Wikipedia
It is interesting to note that at many learning institutions, Wikis, primarily Wikipedia, are frowned upon in terms of being used as a research tool for students. Many colleges, including the one where I teach, will not permit students to use Wikipedia for research/citations, etc. The "reasoning" is that due to the community/self-editing nature of the site, not all information can be trusted as accurate. Yet this course and others talk of its many benefits with opportunities for learning. I am interested to know what the prevailing thoughts and preferences are. Thank you for your time.
Kevin,
I do not understand what you are meaning by this.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Just to use wiki as a class site for the student's use.
Donna,
I agree with you. I actually use it start the search. I teach a report writing course so we start there and but talk about the characteristics of Wiki and why it is not a reputable source.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Peter,
That is a great example. I do use Wikipedia, but not as a source but a starting point. They can't reference it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In the institutions I work for Wikis are not acceptable, I have a document posted in my virtual classrooms, but students still try to use the source. The Wiki site has many links and different sections which can be good information, for personal use, but not for higher education learning. After all online schools provide excellent library resources, and point students to Google Scholar. Wikis may be ok at the grade school level but in higher education facts, and scholarly works are the call of the day...
My college frowns upon the use of Wikipedia. I feel like I am talking into the wind when I explain not to use the site. But now since the World Cup I have a great example as to why Wikipedia is not a valid reference. I am referring to when someone replaced the US Goalie, Tim Howard as the US Secretary of Defense on the site.
Lyn,
I agree with you. Wikipedia is a start, not a final citation. Even I use it that way. We have to model and teach students how to use resources responsibly.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Although incorrect information is corrected quickly on the Wikipedia site, there is still a chance of getting misinformation. By their own admission, Wikipedia articles may or may not be reliable.
My students are allowed to use Wikipedia articles but only as a starting point. I suggest checking on the reference section to help them begin and expand on their research.
Christopher,
I don't think you should EVER use the Wikipedia as the definitive resource. It is interesting that we think of wikis as an information system when really is is just a application that allows anyone to post anything. I actually use the wiki system in our LMS for students to write group papers. They can each add portions, I can track you does what and they can copy it and dump it into Word to format. It works very well.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Simone,
This is the view of Kelly the faculty member ( and I teach a report writing course). I allow students to use Wikipedia. It is a great way to help develop research, they cannot use it to base their opinion, only to create a trail of research. My students use wikis as a way to create a document and to create a trail of who is adding to the document. I think it is part of students learning to determine credibility of information on the Internet.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I also teach at a university which bans use of such sites. I think it is a fine line as wikis allow for self-editing and this can detract from the accuracy of the material.
If the wiki created was for use by students and instructors of the specific university only, then I think it would be more acceptable. It is the possibility of outside tampering that warns most schools off the idea.
