Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/College of DuPage/Knowledge in the Misinformation Age (Spring 2022)
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- Course name
- Knowledge in the Misinformation Age
- Institution
- College of DuPage
- Instructor
- Prof. Timothy Henningsen
- Wikipedia Expert
- Ian (Wiki Ed)
- Subject
- English/Education
- Course dates
- 2022-01-24 00:00:00 UTC – 2022-05-20 23:59:59 UTC
- Approximate number of student editors
- 22
This is a Learning Communities course which combines English 1102: "Composition II" with Education 1116: "Research in the Information Age." Learning Communities are unique, innovative learning experiences that typically involve students enrolling as a cohort in two or more courses connected by a common theme. Learning Communities can provide students greater opportunities to connect with professors and classmates and enhanced understanding of the courses' subject matter.
This particular combo examines the fundamental role of research and rhetoric within the world of knowledge creation, while exploring academic discourse, bias, credibility, objectivity, and community writing in the digital world.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This class will teach the basics of discourse, argumentative writing, and research methods -- while also promoting digital literacy -- through a rigorous inquiry of the world’s fifth most visited website. According to its own entry, Wikipedia is a user-driven, free-access, free-content encyclopedia, supported and hosted by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation, and constitutes the Internet’s "largest and most popular general reference work."
And yet, many academics frown upon the use of Wikipedia, while some even go so far as to ban students from using it. Why? This class will pursue that debate and many, many more related to research, writing, and the production of knowledge. Course assignments involve 4 major research-based projects: (1) an analysis essay, (2) an annotated bibliography, (3) a reflection essay, and (4) a Wikipedia article written and edited by you. In order to successfully produce each project, we will have to explore a variety of conventions related to writing, as well as some theoretical ideas related to epistemology. We will familiarize ourselves with the policies and procedures set forth by Wikipedia’s community of contributors. We will evaluate print and digital texts by conducting research in the library and online. We will hone your skills in academic research, argumentative writing, and discourse analysis. We will practice summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, analyzing, and synthesizing the views of other writers. Ultimately, you will begin to apprehend the fundamental role of rhetoric (i.e., persuasion) within the world of online and academic discourse, while also learning about knowledge creation, bias, credibility, objectivity, and community writing in the digital world. In sum, through classroom discussions, writing assignments, and your own online inquiries, this class promises to make you a better writer, reader, researcher, and thinker.
Timeline
Week 1
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 24 January 2022 | Wednesday, 26 January 2022
- In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia assignment
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.
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
- Assignment - Get started on Wikipedia
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.)
- Milestones
This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.
Week 2
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 31 January 2022 | Wednesday, 2 February 2022
- Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia
- In class - Discussion
Week 3
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 7 February 2022 | Wednesday, 9 February 2022
- Assignment - Review the rules for health topics
- Assignment - Choose possible topics
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 6
- In class - Discussion
Week 4
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 14 February 2022 | Wednesday, 16 February 2022
- Assignment - Add to an article
- Assignment - Exercise
Week 5
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 21 February 2022 | Wednesday, 23 February 2022
- Assignment - Start drafting your contributions
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
- Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area
- Milestones
Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.
Week 6
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 28 February 2022 | Wednesday, 2 March 2022
- Assignment - Peer review two articles
- In class - Discussion
- Milestones
Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.
Week 7
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 7 March 2022 | Wednesday, 9 March 2022
- Assignment - Respond to your peer review
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 8
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 14 March 2022 | Wednesday, 16 March 2022
- Assignment - Begin moving your work to Wikipedia
Now that you've improved your draft based on others' feedback, it's time to move your work live - to the "mainspace."
Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 13
Week 9
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 21 March 2022 | Wednesday, 23 March 2022
- Assignment - Continue improving your article
Exercise
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 10
- Course meetings
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- Monday, 28 March 2022 | Wednesday, 30 March 2022
- Assignment - Polish your work
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 11
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 4 April 2022 | Wednesday, 6 April 2022
- Assignment - Final article
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!
- Assignment - Reflective essay
- Assignment - Original analytical paper
Write a paper going beyond your Wikipedia article to advance your own ideas, arguments, and original research about your topic.
Week 12
- Course meetings
-
- Monday, 11 April 2022 | Wednesday, 13 April 2022
- Milestones
Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.