Documentation:Effective Practices for Wikipedia Assignments

From UBC Wiki

Wikipedia-based assignments can engage students in an authentic learning experience that involves open collaboration, critical thinking, and knowledge building for a global audience. When students write or edit in Wikipedia, they are not using the same format or skills that they would in writing a research paper or persuasive essay – they are applying new strategies to produce knowledge that people will use in the real world and they are building digital literacies.

Why are you using Wikipedia?

  • Rationale: What is the value for students in writing for Wikipedia? How does it relate to your course goals?
  • Support: What support will you require? Consider both assignment design consultation (CTLT) and classroom support (CTLT, Writing Centre, Library): wiki editing orientation for students; research support; technical support. etc.
  • Rubric: How will you evaluate the contributions students make to Wikipedia? Criteria?
  • Digital literacy: Is it important to move students along a continuum from consumers to creators of knowledge?

Considerations

  • Core content guidelines: Does your assignment fit with Wikipedia's Core Content?
  • Time: Assignments typically need scaffolding over time in the course - however this depends on the assignment type.
  • Community/Culture: Wikipedia can be viewed as community engagement. Wikipedia has a highly engaged community of editors with their own culture.
  • Instructor Engagement: Helpful if instructor is engaging with the Wikipedia community.
  • Learning Environment: It expands the learning environment beyond the UBC community. Community editors support student learning and may challenge current biases on Wikipedia (gender-related, notability guidelines, etc)
  • Purpose: Wikipedia is a encyclopedia. It requires encyclopedic type of writing.
  • High Visibility: Wikipedia is highly publicly visible and editable.
  • Copyright: All work has to be CC (Creative Commons) licensed and needs attention to copyright.
  • Affordance: Instructor understands the structure and benefit of Wiki.
  • Iterative: There is no final draft in Wikipedia. The articles are always in development
  • Preparedness: Course that has well-defined goals and intention can integrate well with Wikipedia.
  • Generalist Orientation Students do not have to be expert in the subject matter. They are summarizing existing knowledge on Wikipedia.

Readings/Resources

Basic overview of Wikipedia

Wikipedia in Academia

Wikipeda on itself

Instructor Resources

Resources for group work

Using Wikipedia in the classroom requires a lot of collaboration from students' side and it is group-work based. Being able to understand your role as a group work facilitator is a key to the success. Below are tips on how to facilitate group work:

See Also