Even though I tell them specifically in the assignment that Wikipedia cannot be used, I always have at least three or four in the class who insist on using it. I tell them it can't be considered a "credible" source since anyone--including them--could add material to it.
2007-01-08 06:54:35 · 25 answers · asked by StAmadeus 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Teaching
When I was teaching, I outlined sources that weren't credible. I put a list of these so-called "sources" on a handout. If a student were foolish enough to cite one of those sources, they got their paper handed right back to them, and got to start writing it over again. Do that a few times, and they'll quickly learn that you mean business.
2007-01-08 06:56:46 · answer #1 · answered by thaliax 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anyone can add material to it, but you should be teaching your students to check sources. Most Wikipedia articles have credible sources at the bottom. The articles that don't have a [citation needed] and a big "No sources" warning on top.
Wikipedia is an excellent source of information. I'm sick of people thinking anyone can just sit down and submit anything expecting to get away with it. Wikipedia is peer-reviewed by hundreds, even thousands of people at any given time.
Any article that is flagged or edited is put on alert, and is quickly peer-reviewed, corrected and in the case of mass vandalism violations, locked.
2007-01-08 07:13:43 · answer #2 · answered by Psilocybin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say that if you specifically told them not to use Wikipedia and they're still doing it then I'd make them re-do that part of the assignment and/or take off points. That being said -- have you shown them what a credible source is and why? Would you consider The New York Times credible? How about Fox News? What about al-Jazeera? If not, then why not? I don't know what subject or age group you teach but I think if you explain your criteria for sources to them and tell them why its important they may respect your rules more.
2007-01-08 07:06:48 · answer #3 · answered by Carolyn R 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, why would you say that Wikipedia is not a credible source? Is it because of the information written there are olnly contributed by other people? Don't worry. Even though there are some who vandalize the site, most of Wikipedia contributors are devoted into making the sote as accurate and true as possible. In fact, when you write something untrue there, it could be deleted in less than twelve hours. Repeated vandalism can cause your IP address to be banned from the site, disabling you to contribute anything in Wikipedia again.
2007-01-08 06:59:20 · answer #4 · answered by Captain Hook 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Something that worked for me was to inform the students of a university professor (this is a true story) who assigned a very specific assignmnet. He then went and posted an article on wikipedia in regards to this topic. At the end of the article, he put a note that he was the one who created the site, just to test his students to see if they would use a credible site. If the students ended up using his false information, he failed them.
2007-01-10 15:27:38 · answer #5 · answered by suebob 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tell them from now on that anyone who uses wikipedia as a source for a research paper will fail the assignment.
2007-01-08 07:03:27 · answer #6 · answered by Kiki 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should add a fake or "wrong" entry to Wikipedia then go to the site in class to demonstrate. Additionally, can you outline a webquest or provide the materials so students can choose within your perimeters of appropriate material?
2007-01-08 06:57:17 · answer #7 · answered by heel75 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The other side of your agrument would be that because of the fact that everyone can edit it, it is creditable. Everything is put though a adviser before wiki post anything. But i would sugest having a class early in the year about what is creatiable and not.
2007-01-08 06:58:51 · answer #8 · answered by Jason 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Three or four idiots that can't follow instructions in a class isn't 'that' bad. Sounds like most of them know better. There're always going to be a few nimrods who just don't get it; just do your best hammering the lesson into them over and over.
2007-01-08 06:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by Jacob P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wikipedia IS a credible source because it is monitored extremely well by those who administer the site...each article contains a disclaimer as to how accurate the info for that particular piece is...wikipedia is actually an excellent site for students because very often the articles are written in language and terms they understand...teach them how to use the site correctly rather than condeming the whole thing...
2007-01-08 07:04:56 · answer #10 · answered by techteach03 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋