Wikipedia:Canada Education Program/Courses/Environment and Society - Fall 2012 (Grant Aylesworth)/Timeline

Timeline
A PDF checklist intended to guide students through the assignment is available on Moodle. The below schedule is supplementary and includes links to information that you will find useful.
 * NOTE: "Handouts" mentioned on this page will not be distributed. They are intended to be viewed using the links provided. Other help can be found by clicking on the tabs at the top of this page.

Week 1: Wikipedia Essentials

 * Overview of the course
 * Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course

Week 2: Editing basics

 * Basics of editing
 * Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good & bad articles
 * Tips on finding the best articles to work on for class assignments can be found in the below handouts and videos:
 * Handouts and videos: Video on creating an account, Talk pages tutorial video, Evaluating Wikipedia article quality brochure, Account and user page creation handout, Wikimarkup cheatsheet

Week 3: Exploring the topic area

 * Handout: Welcome to Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wikimedia Foundation)


 * Read Five pillars, an explanation of Wikipedia's basic rules and principles


 * Handout: Advice for choosing articles

Week 4: Using sources

 * Q&A session with instructor about Wikipedia, editing, how-to, and getting started with writing. Held in Dunn 102 (computer lab), regular class time.
 * Handouts and videos: Referencing handout, Referencing: Wikicode handout, Plagiarism handout, Citing sources tutorial video, RefToolbar citation tool tutorial video


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

Week 5: Choosing articles

 * Instructor evaluates student's article selections.

Week 6: Researching articles

 * Add the education program banner, by copying and pasting the banner text found at the bottom of the article/username table.
 * Compile a bibliography of relevant research and post it to the talk page of the article you are working on. Begin reading the sources.
 * Video resource: Sandbox tutorial
 * Begin working with classmates and Online Ambassadors improve your article and fix any major transgressions of Wikipedia norms.
 * Continue research in preparation for expanding your article.


 * Milestone
 * All students have started editing articles on Wikipedia.

Week 7: Did you know

 * Handout: Moving into main space, Submitting articles to Did You Know


 * Wiki assignments (due week 8)
 * For qualifying expansions of stubs, compose a one-sentence "hook," and consider nominating it for "Did you know," and monitor the nomination for any issues identified by other editors.
 * Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Week 8: Building articles

 * Handouts and videos: Uploading images handout, Uploading files to Wikimedia Commons video, Evaluating Wikipedia article quality brochure (handed out originally in week 2), Article assessments video, Evolution of an article video


 * Wiki assignments (due week 9)
 * Expand your article into a more comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Weeks 9-10: Getting and giving feedback

 * Select one classmates' articles that you will peer review and copy-edit.
 * Make sure that other Wikipedia articles link to your article.
 * Make sure that your article links to other Wikipedia articles.


 * Wiki assignments (due week 10)
 * Copy-edit the reviewed articles. Review 1 of your colleague’s articles (the ones you signed up for as reviewer on the course page). Answer questions such as:
 * Are the newly added sections of the article readable?
 * Are all additions well referenced?
 * Does the content adhere to Wikipedia's Neutral Point of View policy?
 * How much do the additions improve the article overall?
 * Post your comments as reviewer to the article’s talk page. Don’t forget to sign your comments by typing "~" four times. This will automatically insert your username and a timestamp.
 * Small group and class discussion around suggestions for improving articles. What is expected from a solid encyclopedia article.


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

Week 11: Final Edits

 * Add final touches to your Wikipedia article. Try to address issues from Good Article reviews.
 * Write a reflective essay (2-3 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.
 * Make edits to your article based on peers' feedback.
 * Nominate your article for Good Article status.
 * Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.

Week 12: Discussion and Post Mortem

 * In class
 * Wikipedia post mortem. Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia

Week 13: Due date
You made it!


 * Write 1-2 double-spaced pages reflecting on your Wikipedia experience and evaluating the quality of your contribution and overall activities on this assignment.
 * Refer back to your “one minute paper” about your expectations and include a comparison of your expectations and actual experience.
 * Hand in the reflective essay and a copy of the assignment checklist.


 * Milestone
 * Students have finished all their work on Wikipedia that will be considered for grading, and have submitted reflective essays.

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