Wikipedia:United States Education Program/Courses/Training Systems/Timeline

Step 1: Orientation to Wikipedia

 * In class (Monday, October 10, 2011)
 * Overview of the Wikipedia assignment
 * Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the assignment
 * Handout: Welcome to Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wikimedia Foundation)


 * Assignment (due Monday, October 17, 2011)
 * Read Five pillars, an explanation of Wikipedia's basic rules and principles
 * Review list of Online Ambassadors and recommend your top three. Make sure they are available by checking the Number of classes (pods) they are committed to working with in the first column and the number of classes and pods they have, listed in the last column.

Step 2: Orientation to Wikipedia

 * In class (Monday, October 17, 2011)
 * 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 (due Wednesday, October 19, 2011)
 * Create a Wikipedia account, create a user page, and sign up on the list of students on the course page.
 * To 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 their user talk page.


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

Step 3: Orientation to the topic

 * In class (Wednesday, October 19, 2011)
 * Handout: Advice for choosing articles
 * Assignments (due Monday, October 24, 2011):
 * Critically evaluate an existing Wikipedia article related to the class, and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's discussion page.
 * Research and list 3 articles on your Wikipedia user page that you will consider working on as your main project. Ask your class's Online Ambassadors for comments.

Step 4: Using sources

 * In class (Monday, October 31, 2011)
 * Handouts and videos: Referencing handout, Referencing: Wikicode handout, Plagiarism handout, Citing sources tutorial video, RefToolbar citation tool tutorial video


 * Assignment (due Wednesday, November 2, 2011)
 * Add 1–2 sentences of new information, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to a Wikipedia article. Related to the class, preferred. Will accept any Wikipedia article.


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

Step 5: Choosing articles

 * In class (Monday, November 7, 2011)
 * Discuss the range of topics students will be working on and strategies for researching and writing about them. Make your final decision about which Wikipedia article you will be working on.
 * Begin compiling a bibliography of related resources that you will use to work on your Wikipedia article.
 * Be prepared to present the topic you have selected, why you have selected it, and what your plan is for editing or writing on Wednesday.


 * Assignments (due Wednesday, November 9, 2011)
 * Share the topic you have selected, why you have selected it, and what your plan is for editing or writing.
 * Continue compiling a bibliography of relevant research and post it to your User page.

Step 6: Drafting starter articles

 * In class (Wednesday, November 2, 2011)
 * Talk about Wikipedia culture & etiquette, and [optionally] introduce the concept of sandboxes and how to use them.
 * Q&A session about interacting on Wikipedia and getting started with writing
 * Video resource: Sandbox tutorial
 * Assignments (due Monday, November 7, 2011)
 * If you are starting a new article, write a 3–4 paragraph summary version of your article (with citations) in your Wikipedia sandbox. If you are improving an existing article, write a summary version 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 Online Ambassadors to polish your short starter article and fix any major transgressions of Wikipedia norms.
 * Continue research in preparation for expanding your article.


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

Step 7: Continue editing

 * In class (Monday, November 7, 2011)
 * Handout: Moving into main space, Submitting articles to Did You Know


 * Wiki assignments (due Wednesday, November 9, 2011)
 * Move sandbox articles into main space.
 * Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Step 8: Building articles

 * In class or outside of class (Wednesday, November 9, 2011)
 * Article ratings on Wikipedia & how to get there
 * Uploading images, and adding images to articles
 * Handouts and videos: Uploading images handout, Uploading files to Wikimedia Commons video, Evaluating Wikipedia article quality brochure (distributed originally in week 2), Article assessments video, Evolution of an article video


 * Wiki assignments (due Monday, November 14, 2011)
 * Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.
 * Select two classmates' articles that you will peer review and copy-edit. (You don't need to start reviewing yet.)

Step 9: Getting and giving feedback

 * In class (Monday, November 14, 2011)
 * 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.


 * Wiki assignments (due November 16, 2011)
 * Peer review two of your classmates' articles. Leave suggestions on the article talk pages.
 * Copy-edit the two reviewed articles.


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

Step 10: Responding to feedback

 * In class (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)
 * Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia


 * Wiki assignments (due November 21, 2011)
 * Make edits to your article based on peers' feedback.

Step 11: Reflective essay

 * Wiki assignments (due Wednesday, November 30, 2011)
 * Add final touches to you Wikipedia article.
 * Write a reflective essay (2-5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions.

Step 12: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
You made it!


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

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