How to share an oral history collection more widely
Jake Kubrin is Metadata Librarian at the Stanford Law School Robert Crown Library who recently completed our intermediate-level Wikidata training course. Here he shares what linked open data makes possible for his work. The American Bar Association (ABA) began conducting a series of oral history interviews of leading women lawyers, judges, and legal professionals in … Continued
Wikipedia as a platform for Science Policy
Daniel Puentes is a Graduate Research Assistant at Michigan State University and recently completed our Wikipedia training course sponsored by the National Science Policy Network. Wikipedia is one of the most popular online resources for anyone to get information that they’re interested in learning. During election years, voters will use Wikipedia to read about different … Continued
What students fighting misinformation online looks like
Facebook announced a new policy last week banning “deepfakes”, or digitally altered videos, from its platform. Not surprisingly, thousands turned to the Wikipedia page about deepfakes to understand more. Thanks to University of Southern California students from Helen Choi’s course last fall, the page provides some helpful context. In the last few years, the world’s … Continued
Teaching Innovations at Vanderbilt
We’ve all been told—or been the one telling people—to not use Wikipedia as a source. There’s a variety of reasons, of course, with the main one being the credibility of the information. The Wikipedia community is aware of this and has made a series of changes aimed at rectifying this. Wiki Education’s programs are also … Continued
Improving information about disability healthcare on Wikipedia
When Wikipedia is a first stop for individuals interested in developmental disability-related healthcare, isn’t it important that the information they find there be complete and accurate? Wikipedia is one of the places many individuals who lack knowledge about developmental disability issues turn to. Some healthcare practitioners consult the site and/or use it as a resource. … Continued
A linked data platform with the potential that metadata professionals long for
Jackie Shieh, a Descriptive Data Management Librarian at Smithsonian Libraries, recently completed our Wikidata how-to course for beginners. Here, Jackie provides a detailed account of what that experience was like. Learning the way of triple statements is something very new to librarians, especially metadata professionals who are no strangers to rules and the interpretation for … Continued
Celebrating your students’ work at the end of the term
Our favorite (and also busiest!) time of the fall term has rolled around again. During these last few weeks before the holidays, students move all their final edits live, resulting in thousands of words added to Wikipedia overnight! It’s fascinating to see the breadth and depth of interesting new content that suddenly appears. As instructors … Continued
Adding to Wikipedia as an assignment? It’s a pizza cake…
Information Services and Instruction Librarian Melissa Kahili-Heede and Dr. Richard Kasuya led their students at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in a Wikipedia writing assignment last term that changed the way they worked with both students and faculty. This was the second time they’ve had medical … Continued
Penn students feel connection to local history while writing Wikipedia page for local mosque
As is often the case when teaching with Wikipedia, Dr. Heather Sharkey adapted her original vision of a Wikipedia writing assignment based on what inspired students about the task. The result is a great story of collaboration, archiving of local history, and pride. Dr. Sharkey conducted her first Wikipedia writing assignment using our resources and … Continued
Early career scientists interested in science policy can make a difference
Wikipedia is where people turn when they want to learn about science. Whether looking for information about health care, climate change, a medical condition, nuclear energy, space exploration, drug side effects, or human biology, it’s often the first stop we look. It’s also where citizens find information they need to make informed political decisions, and … Continued