“Where are the women in STEM?” We’ve always been here
Dr. Maryam Zaringhalam is a molecular biologist, science writer, and member of the 500 Women Scientists leadership team. Here, she invites women scientists to help achieve our goal of writing 500 biographies of women in STEM into Wikipedia. Inspired by my brilliant friend Jess Wade, I started writing Wikipedia biographies for women scientists to tackle … Continued
Please help us strengthen Wikipedia’s COVID-19 information
Please help us with getting relevant COVID-19 information out to the general public. Wikipedia has developed into being one of the most trusted sources of information. The online encyclopedia and the volunteers that write it have played an important role in this global pandemic from day one: By providing critical information about the infectious disease, … Continued
Writing for a time of need
Unlike traditional writing assignments where a student’s work is ephemeral, the Wikipedia writing assignment allows for student work to persist on in the public reach. Student work can later become highly relevant and important in response to current events. Last spring, a University of Maryland student in Dr. L. Jen Shaffer’s Researching Environment and Culture … Continued
Looking back at Fall 2019: engagement, service, and excitement
Wiki Education now regularly supports around 400 courses each term. With thousands of students adding millions of words to Wikipedia every academic year, you’d think we’d know everything there is to know about the Wikipedia assignment, from what it takes to be successful to what students get out of the project. But each term brings … Continued
Finding your students’ work
Having trouble finding the work your students did on Wikipedia? We’ve been working on making the Dashboard a better tool for evaluating student work, but we know we know there’s still more work to be done. The Wiki Education technology team — myself and Wes Reid — have been meeting with many instructors over the … Continued
Learning about Wikidata changed my approach to teaching information literacy
Our introductory linked data course provides support and resources for professionals to incorporate Wikidata into their different projects and goals. Rivka Genesen participated as Assistant Director of Library Services at The Ursuline School. My students, consciously or unconsciously, often show me the parallel sets of skills they have developed when we sit down to work … Continued
Wikidata reveals new insights about SFMOMA’s exhibition data
Art museums are not only stewards of data about their collection but also of data from other museums. All of this data can tell the story of art, art movements, and the creators of these artworks. In January I followed up with some of our Wikidata course participants at SFMOMA. I met with Ian Gill, … Continued
Teaching the Wikipedia assignment virtually: Let’s share tips!
If you find yourself teaching the Wikipedia writing assignment virtually for the first time, take some tips from instructors in our community who have done it before! Take advantage of support Use Wiki Education’s Dashboard. It’s already an online platform, complete with full instructions from beginning to end, including a “how to teach with Wikipedia” … Continued
Monthly Report, December 2019
Highlights December saw the wrap up of the Fall 2019 term. Students moved their work into the article main space and put the finishing touches on their articles. Another cohort of students can proudly say that they helped to improve Wikipedia and in doing so, the world’s access to good and reliable information. In December, … Continued
Monthly Report, February 2020
Highlights We had our All Staff Meeting, a week-long opportunity for remote staff to join the San Francisco-based team members for a week of meetings, collaboration, and socializing. In February Paul Carroll began as Director, Institutional Funding. Having spent his professional career at the nexus of philanthropy, government, and nonprofits, Paul is a great fit … Continued