Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Leeward Community College, University of Hawaii/Introduction to Zoology (Fall 2021)

This course is an introduction to the study of animal life. We will discuss animal physiology, reproduction, and life histories, as well as evolution of animal life, the interaction of organisms in their environment, food chains and trophic levels, and ecological distributions. Representative animal phyla including both invertebrates and vertebrates are studied from the viewpoint of systematics and structural characters with special emphasis on Hawaiian species. I taught this course the first time last semester and noticed that 1) students often use google (and often wikipedia) for their homework, but use the first things that come up in their searches, and 2) Hawaiiʻs species, environments and locations are underrepresented on Wikipedia. This often leads to students discussing species occurring in North America instead of local species. I would like to add a Wikipedia assignment to 1) help my students with digital literacy, improved understanding of plagiarism, use of references as well as improved communication skills, and 2) increase information on Wikipedia of native Hawaiian animal species.

Week 1
Welcome to your Wikipedia assignment's course timeline. This page guides you through the steps you'll need to complete for your Wikipedia assignment, with links to training modules and your classmates' work spaces.

You will contribute to Wikipedia by adding 1 species entry of an animal species native to Hawaiʻi. You can choose anything within the taxonomic groups Arthropods, Mollusks, Birds, or Fish.

Your course has been assigned a Wikipedia Expert. You can reach them through the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resources:


 * Editing Wikipedia, pages 1–5
 * Evaluating Wikipedia

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 2
Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link your instructor sent you. (Because of Wikipedia's technical restraints, you may receive a message that you cannot create an account. To resolve this, please try again off campus or the next day.)

Week 3
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6

Choose an animal species native to Hawaiʻi (endemic species are ok, alien or introduced species are not) within the taxonomic groups Arthropods, Mollusks, Birds, or Fish. Make sure the species is not already in Wikipedia and that there are at least 5 references available (digital or in analog format at the Leeward CC library). Please submit your choice on Laulima in the Week 3 Tab link.

Week 4
You will need at least 5 reputable sources for your final article. These sources can be available online or at our Leeward CC library.

Check library/librarian (link)

Week 5
Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have questions using the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9

Species

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

By the end of this week your draft will have at least the following: Title, lead section (including common, Hawaiian and scientific name), a wiki taxa box, and some info on Conservation Status.

Week 7
Expand your sections on Anatomy &amp; Morphology, Distribution &amp; Habitat, Cultural Importance

Week 8
Guiding framework

Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.

Week 9
You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. Consider their suggestions, decide whether it makes your work more accurate and complete, and edit your draft to make those changes.

Resources:


 * Editing Wikipedia, pages 12 and 14
 * Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have any questions.

Week 10
Now that you've improved your draft based on others' feedback, it's time to move your work live - to the &quot;mainspace.&quot;

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 13

Now's the time to revisit your text and refine your work. You may do more research and find missing information; rewrite the lead section to represent all major points; reorganize the text to communicate the information better; or add images and other media.

Week 11
Continue to expand and improve your work, and format your article to match Wikipedia's tone and standards. Remember to contact your Wikipedia Expert at any time if you need further help!

Week 12
It's the final week to develop your article.


 * Read Editing Wikipedia page 15 to review a final check-list before completing your assignment.
 * Don't forget that you can ask for help from your Wikipedia Expert at any time!

Week 13
Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.