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I agree with Frances about Wikipedia being a useful point of departure, which can then lead students to look further into a topic. If we want our students to become critical thinkers, then learning how to evaluate the academic credibility of any source material is a crucial skill they have to learn to develop as part of their studies. Tracy Johnson --On 08 March 2007 22:49 +0000 Frances Bell <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > A very eminent international scholar visiting us used a Wikipedia > definition of x in one of his lectures. When challenged about this, he > said he thought it was one of the best definitions he had read. I think > the point is that the content is of very variable quality and the > Wikipedia cannot be used as a badge of high or low quality. Personally, I > think Wikipedia can be a good point of departure and if students go from > there to check orignal sources, then that is scholarly behaviour. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: learning development in higher education network on behalf of > Christine Keenan Sent: Thu 08/03/2007 14:25 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Using wikipedia > > I've heard that the error rate in Wikipedia isn't too different to > Encyclopedia Britannica! > Chris > > -----Original Message----- > From: learning development in higher education network > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Pat Hill > Sent: 08 March 2007 13:16 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Using wikipedia > > > > > Hi David > I'm not sure about the whole University but I know that in the > School of Music, Humanities and Media using Wikipedia seems to be akin > to using your Aunty Ethel's cousin's husband's anecdote as evidence, > judging by the moral indignation it evokes. My view is that it's not a > bad starting point if you want a way into a difficult topic but it can't > be quoted as a reliable source. > Regards > Pat > Pat Hill > Academic Skills Tutor > School of Music, Humanities and Media > Tel 01484 472170 > Room WG20 West Building > University of Huddersfield > > -----Original Message----- > From: learning development in higher education network > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Donnarumma (Staff) > Sent: 08 March 2007 12:51 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Using wikipedia > > > > Hello, > > I came across the following article > (http://education.guardian.co.uk/elearning/story/0,,2028515,00.html > <http://education.guardian.co.uk/elearning/story/0,,2028515,00.html> ) > which involves students writing for wikipedia - similar to the 'evolving > writing wiki'. An interesting way of getting students to develop their > writing, as what they produce is open to discussion by many people. I > think it really helps to develop students' reflective approach to > writing. Another interesting point is the growing acceptance of > wikipedia as a reference. > > Has anybody else had an experience in developing > students' writing in this way? How acceptable is wikipedia as a > reference at universities? > > Regards, > > David > > Brunel University > > > > > > > 1 Vision. Our students voted us top new University for student > satisfaction.<http://www.hud.ac.uk/images/emails/1vision_footer-b.gif> > > This transmission is confidential and may be legally privileged. > If you receive it in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail and > remove it from your system. If the content of this e-mail does not > relate to the business of the University of Huddersfield, then we do not > endorse it and will accept no liability. ---------------------- Dr Tracy Johnson Teaching Support Unit University of Bristol [log in to unmask] 0117 331 7168 (x17168)