Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Bucknell University/Too Much Information (Fall 2015)
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- Course name
- Too Much Information
- Institution
- Bucknell University
- Instructor
- KatieBU
- Subject
- Interdisciplinary
- Course dates
- 2015-08-24 – 2015-12-09
- Approximate number of student editors
- 32
This interdisciplinary course explore the effects of digital information technologies on our lives. We examine the benefits and costs of the ubiquitous access to information via digital technologies in both our professional and personal lives. We analyze our information ecosystem and how digital information technologies impact it. We also discover how new technologies are often initially disruptive, particularly in our social, educational, economic and legal systems. We examine the economic and social implications of access to information and use of digital technologies.
Specifically we study Wikipedia as we consider issues of information production, ownership and authority. Through their readings, discussions and editing in Wikipedia students engage in collaborative knowledge creation. They will critically evaluate the value and authority of an information resource we all use daily but often don't much about.
Grading:
Wikipedia Collaborative Project will be 25% of final grade, with the following graded assignments:
- Initial Edits and Training Exercises: 3%
- Article Selection and Rationale: 4%
- Annotated Bibliography and Revision Outline: 4%
- Main Article Edits: 4%
- Reflective Essay: 10%
Timeline
Week 1
- In class - Wikipedia Essentials
Monday, August 24
- Overview of the course
- Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course
- Understanding Wikipedia as a community with expectations and community practices.
Week 2
- In class - Good Faith Collaboration
Monday, August 31
- In class discussion about wikipedia culture, policies and practices.
- Assignment - Practicing the basics
Wednesday, September 2
- Read the User Name Policy
- Create an account and then complete the online training for students. During this training, you will make edits in a sandbox and learn the basic rules of Wikipedia.
- Create a User page.
- To practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, introduce yourself on the user talk page of one of your classmates, who should also be enrolled in the table at the bottom of the page.
Resources and Handouts:
Week 3
- Assignment - Copyedit Articles
Monday, September 7
Review the Editing Wikipedia brochure. Be sure you are logged into Wikipedia! Go to the "Help Out” Section of the Community Portal. Choose 2-3 listed tasks to complete. Read the relevant Learn How section and complete them.
Complete the HOMEWORK reflection in Moodle
Resources and Handouts:
Week 4
- Assignment - Major "Policies"
Monday, September 14
- Review the following pages from the metawiki. Come to class with any questions you might still have.
Handouts and Resources
- Assignment - Articles for Consideration
Wednesday, September 16
- Review Advice for Choosing Articles brochure
- Review Evaluating Wikipedia brochure
- Research and list 3–5 start or stub articles on your Wikipedia user page that you will consider working on as your main project. Be sure to look at the talk pages for a sense of who else is working on it and what problems with the article have been identified by other Wikipedians. Include your rationale for why you believe it would be a good choice as well as and challenges you might anticipate.
Resources and Handouts:
- In class - Possible Articles
Wednesday, September 16
- In class we will engage in peer review and some instructor feedback on the articles you identified as possibilities. Some of the criteria we will give each other feedback on include:
Are there sufficient gaps or issues with the article to merit revision for the course assignment? How will you address them? Are there sufficient reliable sources available?
Week 5
- Assignment - Finalize your topic and start researching
Wednesday, September 23
- Decision Time! Select the article you will work on for the remainder of the course. Add your topic on the course page. Make a note on your talk page about your choice and why you selected it.
Week 6
- In class - Articles for Deletion
Wednesday, September 30
- Discussion of how AfD relates to authority or openness.
Handout and Resources: AfD
Week 7
Be working in your sandbox on your outline and bibliography.
Week 8
- In class - Reliable Sources
Wednesday, October 14th
- As a tertiary information source, a good wikipedia article depends on reliable sources.
Week 9
- Assignment -
Monday, October 19th
- Annotated Bibliographies of relevant and reliable sources and outline are due in your sandbox with a pointer on the article talk page.
Week 10
- Assignment -
Monday, October 26
- Your draft edits and outline should be in your sandbox (with a pointer from the article talk page.)
Week 11
- Assignment -
Wednesday, November 2
- Edits should be on article talk page if they are not there already
Week 12
- Assignment - Edits in Main Space
Monday, November 9th
- All your edits should be completed in the article main space.
Handout: Moving out of your Sandbox
Week 13
- Assignment - Last Edits
Wednesday,November 18
- Check you page for feedback and edits by other Wikipedians. Make additional changes as warranted based on what you have learned about the wikipedia community culture and norms.
Week 14
- Assignment - Reflective Essay
Wednesday, December 2
- Submit a 1,300 word essay integrating what they have learned about wikipedia with their personal experiences as a Wikipedian.
- In class -
Wednesday, December 2
- In class discussion about our experiences as a Wikipedian and the future of Wikipedia.