Meeting: Using Wikipedia as a Teaching Tool

This page will reflect the outcomes from our meeting with expert consultants from several universities about using Wikipedia as a teaching tool in higher education.

Cheryl Moy, Tol Foster, Anne McNeil, Davida Scharf, Bob Cummings, Jim Lipuma
Video: Using Wikipedia as a teaching tool in higher education (11 minutes 33 seconds, 47.4 MB)

What?

Wikimedia Foundation is bringing together a small group of professors and faculty to learn more about their experiences using Wikipedia as a teaching tool (e.g., successes, pitfalls, curriculum, classroom learning activities, methodologies, and tools). In addition, we will be sharing the exciting work we are doing to improve the user experience for new Wikipedia editors and the classroom materials currently in development.

The meeting will be held at the Wikimedia Foundation in San Francisco, and will provide both participants and Wikimedia Foundation Staff members the opportunity to ask questions, exchange ideas, and to learn from each other.

Who?

  • Cheryl Moy, Graduate Student, University of Michigan; Chemistry and Macromolecular Science and Engineering. "Improving Science Education and Understanding with Wikipedia"

Where?

Wikimedia Foundation

149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105

415-839-6885 xt 631

When?

May 11th and 12th (Tuesday, Wednesday)

(1st day: all-day meeting and dinner, 2nd day: half-day wrap-up)

Day one includes
  • Breakfast snacks
  • Lunch
  • Afternoon "pick me up"
  • Dinner
Day two includes
  • Breakfast snacks
  • Lunch

Agenda (draft)

Day 1: Tuesday, May 11

  • 9.00–10.00 Welcome, group introductions
  • 10.00–12.00 Case study: experiences in using Wikipedia as a teaching tool, followed by a discussion
  • 12.00–13.30 Lunch break & Informal discussion with Wikimedia Foundation Team
  • 13.30–14.30 Presentation of the Usability, Bookshelf Project and Public Policy Initiative
  • 14.30–15.00 "pick-me-up" break
  • 15.00–17.00 Discussion: Best practices in using Wikipedia as a teaching tool (effectiveness, pitfalls, best practices, types of activities, what additional support is needed)
  • 18.30– Dinner

Day 2: Wednesday, May 12

  • 9.00-9.30 Breakfast Snacks & Discussion: Best practices in using Wikipedia as a teaching tool (effectiveness, pitfalls, best practices, types of activities, what additional support is needed)
  • 9.30-9.45 Meeting with Sue Gardner, Executive Director, Wikimedia Foundation
  • 9.45-12.00 Discussion: Best practices in using Wikipedia as a teaching tool (effectiveness, pitfalls, best practices, types of activities, what additional support is needed)
  • 12.00-1.00 Lunch

Additional Resources