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Scots Say Wikipedia Stunts Educational Progress
by
Jen O'Neill
The Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) blames Wikipedia for the rising rate of failure among students taking the country’s Standard Grade exams.
30-Second Summary
The SPTC expressed concern that students are using online resources with “inaccurate or deliberately misleading information” for the majority of their research. Educators pointed specifically to Wikipedia as a “dangerous” source, for being “littered with opinion and inaccurate information.”
Though one of the top ten most visited sites on the Web, Wikipedia has been regularly criticized for being unreliable since its inception in 2001.
Despite the SPTC’s concerns, many believe the blame lies not with Internet resources, but with schools, which should be held accountable for teaching students proper research methods.
Wikipedia cofounder Jimmy Wales has remained candid about the flaws of a tool that can be so easily manipulated, which diminishes its credibility and manufactures inconsistent material.
Wales maintains that its purpose is not for in-depth research, and that it should not be deemed an authoritative source of information. Wales adds that the source has become more credible over time, and he hopes to put monitoring systems in place to improve quality.
The real problem, as acknowledged by Wikipedia itself, is that most users do not understand what Wikipedia is.
Though one of the top ten most visited sites on the Web, Wikipedia has been regularly criticized for being unreliable since its inception in 2001.
Despite the SPTC’s concerns, many believe the blame lies not with Internet resources, but with schools, which should be held accountable for teaching students proper research methods.
Wikipedia cofounder Jimmy Wales has remained candid about the flaws of a tool that can be so easily manipulated, which diminishes its credibility and manufactures inconsistent material.
Wales maintains that its purpose is not for in-depth research, and that it should not be deemed an authoritative source of information. Wales adds that the source has become more credible over time, and he hopes to put monitoring systems in place to improve quality.
The real problem, as acknowledged by Wikipedia itself, is that most users do not understand what Wikipedia is.
Headline Link: Scotland faults Wikipedia for students’ failures
One of the SPTC’s primary concerns is that tech-savvy students are more inclined to look on the Web for information than in a book. One educator expressed that using Wikipedia has added implications, stating, “Students don’t develop their interpretative skills.” Another claimed, “The biggest risk of using the Internet source is that it leads to plagiarism, intended or unintended.”
Source: The Scotsman
Reactions: Who’s responsible for students’ scores?
The SPTC cited the Web as being responsible for “dumbing down” students’ research abilities, though some believe the schools simply aren’t doing enough to equip students with quality research skills.
Source: ReadWriteWeb
Opinion & Analysis: Wikipedia's worth
Some schools protest the use of Wikipedia by posting “No Wikipedia” signs in their classrooms and libraries. The encyclopedia is widely viewed as an acceptable source for introductory information. Though as one teacher expressed, students don’t always realize this, and often “take it for gospel.”
Source: Seattle Times
Several academics are using Wikipedia as a place to post straightforward information about complicated subjects, such as computer science. One professor and frequent contributor states, “The authors take advantage of the electronic forms to disseminate their research.” Ultimately, this serves a dual purpose: allowing tech-savvy academics to provide updated and precise information, while simultaneously promoting their own work.
Source: Inside Higher Ed
Wikipedia cofounder Jimmy Wales considers the site to be a “stepping-stone,” but not an end-all source of information. Furthermore, he distinguishes younger users from academics, claiming, “Academics should probably do their own research.” He uses the analogy of banning of rock ’n’ roll music to illustrate what might happen if teachers banned kids from using Wikipedia: “You can ban kids from listening to rock ’n’ roll music, but they’re going to anyway.”
Source: BBC News
Background: Wikipedia seeks to enhance credibility
Jimmy Wales is considering turning Wikipedia into a more reliable source of information that teachers would feel comfortable allowing students to cite in research papers. One idea he has is to flag articles as “faculty approved.” Wales confessed, “We never have a plan, we just wing it,” and expressed his concern that people might not utilize the flagging option.
Source: The Chronicle of Higher Education
Related Topics: Wikipedia and journalism
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Gilbert Gaul says that Wikipedia doesn’t pass his personal litmus test for saving time, which is the ability to confirm information without fact-checking. Other journalists use it, but employ their best judgment and remain vigilant about verifying accuracy.
Source: American Journalism Review
Wikipedia cofounder Larry Sanger left the company due to anxiety about the company’s integrity, and started an alternative to the online encyclopedia called Citizendium, which provides content that is screened by academics.
Source: The Register
Reference: How to use Wikipedia
Wikipedia becomes a problem only when used incorrectly. For tips and advice on how to have a fruitful Wikipedia experience, visit the findingDulcinea Understanding Wikipedia Web Guide.
Source: findingDulcinea
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