Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of New Mexico/Introduction to Information Studies (fall 2019)

In this course, we explore systems of information and how they impact our current social and cultural life. Using Wikipedia as one such system, students will evaluate and edit Wikipedia articles to explore the information creation process of this information format. Students will also consider how authority is constructed and contextual, and recognize the value of information as a commodity.

Welcome to the OILS 101 Wikipedia course page!
This page guides you through the steps you'll need to complete for your Mini-Research Projects (MRPs), with links to training modules and your classmates' workspaces.

Your course has been assigned a Wikipedia Expert. You can reach them through the Get Help button at the top of this page. You can also email Alyssa or Lori if you have questions.

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.)

Resources:


 * Editing Wikipedia, pages 1–5
 * Evaluating Wikipedia

We'll be learning about Wikipedia with a guest lecure and then we'll actually edit Wikipedia articles Tuesday, October 22th, so these trainings are important prep.

This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.

Week 2
It's time to think critically about Wikipedia articles in MRP #1. For this project, you'll evaluate a Wikipedia article.

Using the Wikipedia article you selected in class on Tuesday, consider the following questions for your evaluation:


 * Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?
 * Is the article neutral? Are there any claims, or frames, that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?
 * Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?
 * Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?
 * Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?
 * Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?
 * Check out the Talk page of the article. What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?
 * How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?

'''Your MRP #1 is due in UNM Learn on Sunday, October 27th by midnight. See UNM Learn for full assignment details.'''

Week 6
Based on your Wikipedia article evaluation, you'll be suggesting edits to improve the article. These will not be live edits -- you'll be turning in an edit log of those changes. This MRP will set you up for your final MRP.

'''Your MRP #2 is due in UNM Learn on Sunday, November 26th by midnight. See UNM Learn for assignment.'''

Week 8
It's the final week to develop your article. Now that you have feedback on your draft, you will incorporate that feedback (yes, all of it!) and make your work live. In other words, you'll be moving from the sandbox to the mainspace (or you can simply directly edit the Wikipedia page). You also will have a short reflective essay due. '''Please see Learn for complete details. '''


 * Read Editing Wikipedia pages 13- 15 to review moving work out of your sandbox as well as a final check-list before completing your assignment.
 * Don't forget that you can ask for help from your Wikipedia Expert, Adrienne, or Glenn at any time!

Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia (congratulations!).