Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of Massachusetts, Amherst/UNIV 190L - Demystifying Library Research (Spring 2018)

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Course name
UNIV 190L - Demystifying Library Research
Institution
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Instructor
Annette Vadnais
Wikipedia Expert
Shalor (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Information Literacy
Course dates
2018-01-24 00:00:00 UTC – 2018-05-12 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
20


This course is an exploration of the process of college-level research. In this course, students will learn efficient and effective methods for managing "information overload" and for finding, using, evaluating, organizing, and presenting information.

The way that students will learn these skills will largely be through evaluating and editing Wikipedia articles. Wikipedia is a major secondary source for advanced research, used by both college students and scholars alike. By placing Wikipedia at the center of this course, students will gain an intimate understanding of how Wikipedia works and where this key information resource fits in the research process.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Blawindy Arts in education
Miasmith22
Joecalabro Michael Felger Geology of Iceland, Toddville, Iowa
Coryadelson Espolon Boston, Daniel Wellington
Sitongchen Xuzhou's Diet
MaureenJin
Siobhanreidy
Lpastorella L'Orfeo W.E.B Du Bois, Arts in education, Low culture
Karlilefort Geothermal power in Iceland?action=edit&veswitched=1&oldid=829220987
Kwasibandoh Virgil Abloh
Bbkesler Duolingo Geology of Iceland, Toddville, Iowa
Purplethekid Low culture
Ctrepanier96 Boston
Mattcav1998 Pingree School Toddville, Straw-coloured fruit bat
Hlydon Toddville, Iowa Geology of Iceland, Duolingo
Vliang168 Straw-coloured fruit bat Arts in education
Fairchap UN Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
Dfranzosa5103 Daniel Wellington Espolon, Boston
Aeirlys00 Hominini
Crcarrier Freestyle skiing
Nslabczynski W. E. B. Du Bois Library Boston, Freestyle skiing
Tkjenkins Jean-Michel Basquiat Michael Felger

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
In class - Week 1
Wikipedia Essentials (January 24-30)
  • Overview of the course.
  • Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course.
  • Wikipedia is a community: a brief overview of its rules, expectations, and etiquette.

Week 2

Course meetings
Wednesday, 31 January 2018
Assignment - Week 2
Editing Basics (January 31-February 6) (1 of 3)
  • Basics of editing in Wikipedia.
  • Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good and bad articles.
  • Collaborating and engaging with the Wiki editing community.



Assignment - Editing Basics (2 of 3)

Please complete the Editing Basics Training this week.

Assignment - Editing Basics (3 of 3)

Part three of your Wikipedia training!

Week 3

Course meetings
Wednesday, 7 February 2018
In class - Week 3
Exploring a Topic Area & Scope (February 7-13)

This week, you'll be exploring topic areas, and you'll be introduced to the basics of the library catalog & library databases.


We'll talk about scope and understanding the breadth and depth of your area of interest.


You'll have the opportunity to spend time in Wikipedia searching for a potential topic of interest. While you search, take note of:

  • Areas with missing information
  • Short articles
  • Articles with few references
  • The structure of Wikipedia articles

Your notes will help you figure out good candidates for the Wikipedia article you will edit!


Week 4

Course meetings
Wednesday, 14 February 2018
In class - Week 4
Planning Your Search (February 14-20)
  • Planning your search
  • Developing strategies to find the information you need



Week 5

Course meetings
Wednesday, 21 February 2018
In class - Week 5
Gathering information (February 21-27)
  • Different sources of information (e.g., popular, scholarly, & trade publications)
  • Reading through a source to determine its relevance to you!
  • Citations

Week 6

Course meetings
Wednesday, 28 February 2018
In class - Week 6
Evaluating Information & Annotated Bibliographies (February 28 - Ma
  • Evaluating sources 
  • Writing an annotated bibliography

Week 7

Course meetings
Wednesday, 7 March 2018
In class - Week 7
Managing Information, Plagiarism, and Beginning Your Article. (Marc
  • How to manage information you've collected -- including how to avoid plagiarism and the importance of citing.
  • Begin working on your article!

Week 8

Course meetings
Wednesday, 14 March 2018
In class - Week 8
No Class this Week! Enjoy Your Break!

Week 9

Course meetings
Wednesday, 21 March 2018
In class - Week 9
Continuing Research & Presenting Information (March 21-27)
  • Continue your research
  • Means of presenting information

Week 10

Course meetings
Wednesday, 28 March 2018
In class - Week 10
Continue to Improve Articles & Visual Literacy (March 28-April 3)
  • Improve your article
  • Visual literacy
  • DUE 4/3: Annotated Bibliography!
In class - Training
Contributing Images and Media Files

Please complete the Wikipedia training on contributing images and media to Wikipedia.

Week 11

Course meetings
Wednesday, 4 April 2018
In class - Week 11
Moving Your Article to Mainspace & Media Literacy (April 4-10)
  • Move your article from your sandbox to Wikipedia mainspace.
  • Discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia.
In class - Training
Sandboxes and Mainspace

Please complete the sandboxes and mainspace training.

Week 12

Course meetings
Wednesday, 11 April 2018
In class - Week 12
Peer Review #1 (April 11-17)
  • Continue revising your article
  • Complete peer review training
  • Review one of your classmate's articles

Week 13

Course meetings
Wednesday, 18 April 2018
In class - Week 13
Continue to Improve Articles, Peer Review #2 (April 18-24)
  • Continue to improve articles.
  • Peer review #2

Week 14

Course meetings
Wednesday, 25 April 2018
Final article
  • Add final touches to your Wikipedia article.
Cumulative Reflection
  • Reflect on your research process and how you've grown as a lifelong learner. See Assignment page in Moodle for more detailed information!

Week 15

Course meetings
Wednesday, 2 May 2018
In class - Finals Week!

Please have everything in to me by 11:55PM, May 10, 2018.

This include your Wikipedia article edits and your cumulative reflection.


Final examinations this year:
May 2: Reading Day
May 3: Final examinations begin
May 5: Second reading day
May 7: Final examinations resume
May 10: Last day of final examinations, semester ends.