Wikipedia:United States Education Program/Courses/Conservation Biology (Kyle Harms)/Timeline

Timeline
Note: The timeline below only applies to the Wikipedia-related assignment for our course. Please refer to the course syllabus and course web page for the most up-to-date and accurate time line, assignment details, and other information for the course.

Week 3: Wikipedia Essentials

 * In Discussion Section
 * Overview of the course
 * Introduction to Wikipedia (culture, governance, etc.) & how it was used in the course


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

Week 4: Editing Basics

 * In Discussion Section
 * Campus Ambassadors introduce:
 * 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
 * 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


 * Assignments
 * Create a Wikipedia account, create a user page, and sign up on the list of students on the course page
 * Practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, introduce yourself to one of the class's Online Ambassadors (via talk page), and leave a message for a classmate on her/his user talk page


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

Week 5: Choose a "Hot Topic"

 * In Discussion Section
 * Handout: Advice for choosing articles


 * Assignments
 * Add some information about your chosen "Hot Topic" to your user page, along with at least one alternative topic, so that others can comment on your topic choice. Specifically ask your class's Online Ambassadors for comments
 * After receiving some feedback, turn in your chosen "Hot Topic" to your Teaching Assistants (due 9/20/11)


 * Milestone:
 * All students have chosen "Hot Topics"

Week 9: Progress Check

 * Assignments
 * Submit your informal journals as e-mail attachments to your Instructor; your journals should include the notes you have made concerning your progress to date (due 10/20/11)
 * Add a brief description to your sandbox of at least 3 potential illustrations for your Wikipedia contribution - if you are paired as a student client with a student consultant in LA 4001, then also add the brief descriptions of 3 potential illustrations to the Discussion (talk) page associated with the Wikipedia user page of your student consultant in LA 4001 (due 10/20/11)
 * Continue drafting the text of your Wikipedia contribution in your sandbox (your progress will be assessed online on 10/20/11)


 * Milestone:
 * All students are well underway towards producing draft "Hot Topic" contributions and they are making online suggestions to classmates on their draft contributions

Week 15: Wikipedia "Hot Topic" Contributions Due

 * Assignment
 * Indicate to your Instructor and Teaching Assistants that you have finished your "Hot Topic" contributions (due 12/1/11)


 * Milestone:
 * All students have finished their "Hot Topic" contributions - and they are motivated to continue making useful contributions to Wikipedia!

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