User:Redliz11/INF 250: Advanced information gathering

The title of this class is Advanced Information Gathering: Resources and Strategies. It is part of an information studies minor. The goal of the class is to have students learn how to go beyond cursory Google searches to find information. There is not a single topic that they will be covering in depth; but I plan to talk about how Wikipedia fits into and influences modern knowledge early in the course (then have them use research strategies to complete their pages).

The instructor will come up with a list of articles that students can research, then allow students to choose from that list.

Assignments will include:

1. Completion of training will be graded. 2. Students will need to critique an article, add to an article and illustrate an article. 3. Students will be asked to create a Wikipedia lead section (rather than just an outline) to make sure their sources and research are sound. Early work will be completed in the sandbox before moving live. 4. Students will be asked to peer review at least two of their classmates' assignments. 5. Supplementary assignments will include a reflective essay, blog entries, and a presentation about their editing experience.

Week 1 : Wikipedia essentials

 * Overview of the course
 * Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course
 * Handout: Editing Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wiki Education Foundation)

Week 2 : Editing basics

 * Basics of editing
 * Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good and bad articles
 * Tips on finding the best articles to work on for class assignments
 * Handouts: Using Talk Pages handout and Evaluating Wikipedia brochure


 * 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, and then click the "enroll" button on the top left of this course page.


 * To practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, introduce yourself to any Wikipedians helping your class (such as a Wikipedia Ambassador), and leave a message for a classmate on their user talk page.


 * All students have Wikipedia user accounts and are listed on the course page.

Week 3 : Exploring the topic area

 * Handouts: Choosing an article and How to get help


 * Critically evaluate an existing Wikipedia article related to the class, and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's talk page.

Week 4 : Using sources and choosing articles

 * Handouts: Citing sources on Wikipedia and Avoiding plagiarism on Wikipedia


 * Add 1–2 sentences of new information, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to a Wikipedia article related to the class.


 * Identify an article that would benefit from illustration, create or find an appropriate photo, illustration, or audio/video, and add it to the article.
 * All media uploaded to Wikipedia must fall under a "free license," which means they can be used or shared by anyone. Examples of media you can use are photos that you take yourself, images and text in the public domain, and works created by someone else who has given permission for their work to be used by others. For more information about which types of media can be uploaded to Wikipedia, see Help desk.
 * To add a media file to an article, you must first upload it to Wikimedia Commons. For instructions on how to upload files to Commons, refer to Illustrating Wikipedia. This brochure will also provide you with detailed information about which files are acceptable to upload to Wikipedia and the value of contributing media to Wikipedia articles.


 * Your instructor has created a list of potential topics for your main project. Choose the one you will work on.


 * For next week
 * Instructor evaluates student's article selections, by Week 5.

Week 5 : Finalizing topics and starting research

 * Discuss the range of topics students will be working on and strategies for researching and writing about them.


 * Compile a bibliography of relevant reliable sources and post it to the talk page of the article you are working on. Begin reading the sources.

Week 6 : Drafting starter articles

 * Talk about Wikipedia culture and etiquette, and (optionally) revisit the concept of sandboxes and how to use them.
 * Q&A session with instructor and/or Wikipedia Ambassadors about interacting on Wikipedia and getting started with writing.


 * If you are starting a new article, write an outline of the topic in the form of a standard Wikipedia lead section of 3–4 paragraphs in your sandbox. Wikipedia articles use "summary style", in which the lead section provides a balanced summary of the entire body of the article, with the first sentence serving to define the topic and place it in context. The lead section should summarize, very briefly, each of the main aspects of the topic that will be covered in detail in the rest of the article. If you are improving an existing article, draft a new lead section reflecting the content the article will have after it's been improved, and post this along with a brief description of your plans on the article’s talk page.
 * Begin working with classmates and other editors to polish your lead section and fix any major issues.
 * Continue research in preparation for writing the body of the article.


 * All students have started editing articles or drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 7 : Moving articles to the main space

 * Handout: Moving out of your sandbox


 * Move sandbox articles into main space.


 * Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Week 8 : Building articles

 * Demo uploading images and adding images to articles.
 * Share experiences and discuss problems.
 * Handouts: "Uploading images" and "Evaluating Wikipedia article quality" (handed out originally earlier in the course)


 * Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.


 * Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)

Week 9 : Getting and giving feedback

 * As a group, have the students offer suggestions for improving one or two of the students' articles, setting the example for what is expected from a solid encyclopedia article.


 * Peer review two of your classmates’ articles. Leave suggestions on the article talk pages.
 * Copy-edit the two reviewed articles.


 * All articles have been reviewed by others. All students have reviewed articles by their classmates.

Week 10 : Responding to feedback

 * Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia.


 * Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback.


 * Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.

Week 11 :  Class presentations

 * Students give in-class presentations about their experiences editing Wikipedia.


 * Add final touches to your Wikipedia article.


 * Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.


 * Put together a Wikipedia portfolio.

Week 12 : Due date

 * Students have finished all their work on Wikipedia that will be considered for grading.