Probably true but…

 

From: THES Daily news Tuesday 6 March 2007

Wikipedia hit by identity crisis as student admits posing as professor
Wikipedia is facing one of its biggest crises after a twentysomething student from Kentucky posed as a professor of religious studies and made more than 20,000 alterations to controversial topics on the online encyclopedia. Using the pseudonym "Essjay", the bogus professor had become one of Wikipedia's most prolific "editors", trusted to adjudicate on factual disputes and keep the site free from vandalism. He had even featured in an article in the New Yorker, which took his claims to be an expert in canon law at face value. Now he has been unmasked as Ryan Jordan, a 24-year-old who had created an entirely false identity, claiming to be a tenured professor at a private university, but who relied on books such as Catholicism for Dummies when correcting articles on dogma.
The Independent

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: learning development in higher education network [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Christine Keenan
Sent: 08 March 2007 14:25
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) 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

 

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.