Course name
Collaboration on the Web
Institution
Sawtry College
Instructor
Asim Khairdean
Subject
ICT
Course dates
2015-01-01 – 2015-04-01
Approximate number of student editors
50


Editing Wikipedia: This course will introduce you to Wikipedia - its core principals and how to edit.

You will plan and discuss all edits before making them.

You will be marked on training, discussion and how you respond to feedback as well as what you contribute to the article.


Timeline

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Week 1 : Wikipedia essentials

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In class
  • Discussion on copyright and on the 5 pillars

Week 2 : Editing basics

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In class



Assignment (due Week 3)
  • Create an account and then complete the online training for students. During this training, you will make edits in a sandbox and learn the basic rules of Wikipedia.
  • Create a User page, and then click the "enroll" button on the top left of this course page.
  • To practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, introduce yourself to any Wikipedians helping your class (such as a Wikipedia Ambassador), and leave a message for a classmate on their user talk page.
Milestones
  • All students have Wikipedia user accounts and are listed on the course page.

Week 3 : Exploring the topic area

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In class
  • We will look at the Sawtry page and discuss what edits could be made - what would be suitable and what would not.
  • We will also look at the page for Sawtry Community College


Assignment (due Week 4)
  • Choose one article, identify ways in which you can improve and correct its language and grammar, and make the appropriate changes. (You do not need to alter the article's content.)

Week 4 : Using sources and choosing articles

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Assignment (due Week 5)
  • Add 1–2 sentences of new information, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to a Wikipedia article related to the class.
  • Identify an article that would benefit from illustration, create or find an appropriate photo, illustration, or audio/video, and add it to the article.
    • All media uploaded to Wikipedia must fall under a "free license," which means they can be used or shared by anyone. Examples of media you can use are photos that you take yourself, images and text in the public domain, and works created by someone else who has given permission for their work to be used by others. For more information about which types of media can be uploaded to Wikipedia, see Commons:Help desk.
    • To add a media file to an article, you must first upload it to Wikimedia Commons. For instructions on how to upload files to Commons, refer to Illustrating Wikipedia. This brochure will also provide you with detailed information about which files are acceptable to upload to Wikipedia and the value of contributing media to Wikipedia articles.
  • Your instructor has created a list of potential topics for your main project. Choose the one you will work on.


For next week
  • Instructor evaluates student's article selections, by Week 5.

Week 5 : Finalizing topics and starting research

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In class
  • Discuss the range of topics students will be working on and strategies for researching and writing about them.


Assignment (due Week 6)
  • Compile a bibliography of relevant reliable sources and post it to the talk page of the article you are working on. Begin reading the sources.

Week 6 : Drafting starter articles

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In class
  • Talk about Wikipedia culture and etiquette, and (optionally) revisit the concept of sandboxes and how to use them.
  • Q&A session with instructor and/or Wikipedia Ambassadors about interacting on Wikipedia and getting started with writing.


Assignment (due Week 7)
  • If you are starting a new article, write a 3–4 paragraph summary version of your article—with citations—in your Wikipedia sandbox. If you are improving an existing article, create a detailed outline reflecting the content the article will have after it's been improved, and post this along with a brief description of your plans on the article’s talk page.
  • Begin working with classmates and other editors to polish your short starter article and fix any major issues.
  • Continue research in preparation for expanding your article.
Milestones
  • All students have started editing articles or drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 7 : Moving articles to the main space

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In class


Assignment (due Week 8)
  • Move sandbox articles into main space.
  • Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive treatment of the topic.

Week 8 : Building articles

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Workshop in class or outside of class


Assignment (due Week 9)
  • Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive treatment of the topic.
  • Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copyedit. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)

Week 9 : Getting and giving feedback

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In class
  • As a group, have the students offer suggestions for improving one or two of the students' articles, setting the example for what is expected from a solid encyclopedia article.


Assignment (due Week 10)
  • Peer review two of your classmates’ articles. Leave suggestions on the article talk pages.
  • Copy-edit the two reviewed articles.
Milestones
  • All articles have been reviewed by others. All students have reviewed articles by their classmates.

Week 10 : Responding to feedback

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In class
  • Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy, and the impact and limits of Wikipedia.


Assignment (due Week 11)
  • Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback.

Week 11 : Finishing Touches

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Assignment (due Week 12)
  • Add final touches to your Wikipedia article.

Week 12 : Due date

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Milestones
  • Students have finished all their work on Wikipedia that will be considered for grading.

Grading

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  15%  
   Completion of Wikipedia training
  15%  
   Early Wikipedia exercises
  10%  
   Quality of bibliography and outline
  10%  
   Peer reviews and collaboration with classmates
  40%  
   Quality of your main Wikipedia contributions
  10%  
   Supplementary assignments