Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/University of Virginia/USEM-Seeking Truth in Research (Spring 2020)

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Course name
USEM-Seeking Truth in Research
Institution
University of Virginia
Instructor
Bethany Mickel
Wikipedia Expert
Shalor (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Course dates
2020-01-15 00:00:00 UTC – 2020-05-16 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
18


Searching for truth in an age of misinformation means traversing a daunting landscape of truthiness (Colbert, 2005), intentional misdirection, and scientific research. Becoming a successful researcher requires rigor, perseverance, and knowledge. Using an information literacy lens, this course will explore the roles of truth and opinion in research through topics such as social justice, community engagement, and the impact of bias in an increasingly divided society. By understanding how to navigate a free market of information where dissemination is open to all, students will learn how to successfully generate high quality research; analyze the creation process; leverage their knowledge to craft strong lines of inquiry; and understand and protect their own contributions to scholarship. Focusing on the University of Virginia’s place amidst contemporary political and social issues, students will examine their own identity and role in this volatile landscape as they seek to further develop as critical thinkers and civic-minded future leaders.

This course will use active-learning strategies to examine a broad range of information literacies through readings, guest speakers, group discussion, and peer-to-peer learning. Class assignments will include on-going reflections and encourage collaboration while culminating in a Wikipedia editing project that will showcase students' contributions to a larger body of knowledge using factual evidence. Students will have the opportunity to deeply engage with the Library’s unique resources, including the Library’s making and digital humanities centers and the historic materials of the Albert and Small Special Collections Library.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Rnu6uff Me Too movement, Sexual abuse in Hollywood Vinegar Hill (Charlottesville, Virginia)
Morganromero3 Living wage, Third-person pronoun National Marijuana Initiative, 2019 Virginia political crisis
Laurenoneil82 2019 Virginia political crisis 2018 Google walkouts
Lcordover Murder of Yeardley Love 2019 Virginia political crisis
Oliviafrye Elizabeth Haysom DREAM Act
Sophie Potts DREAM Act Elizabeth Haysom
Mattmgc Gun laws in Virginia Gender pay gap
Hannahfitsum 2018 Google walkouts Immigration reform in the United States
Johnvalenti Immigration reform in the United States Living wage
Sydneykrieger Missing persons cases along U.S. Route 29 in Virginia Mexico–United States barrier
Mpetersen9825 Charlottesville car attack Atlantic Coast Pipeline
NoahSchmeisser Atlantic Coast Pipeline Charlottesville car attack
Michael Lloyd2020 LGBT athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Missing persons cases along U.S. Route 29 in Virginia
Vincenzoanthony Mexico–United States barrier LGBT athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games
AutumnFore National Marijuana Initiative Virginia Gun Control
Kmcphers128 Vinegar Hill (Charlottesville, Virginia) Sexual abuse in Hollywood
Jfhennessy98 Gender pay gap Murder of Yeardley Love

Timeline

Week 3

Course meetings
Wednesday, 5 February 2020
Assignment - 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:


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.

Assignment - Exercise

All you need to do is to select your article--please do not complete anything else in this section. 

Week 4

Course meetings
Wednesday, 12 February 2020
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia

For the 'Evaluate Wikipedia' article, we recommend that you select the article you are using for this course.  Please make sure that you access the link within the exercise, answer the questions, AND publish it once complete.  Doing so will expose some of the areas for improvement, content gaps, and further familiarize you with the existing content.  

Week 5

Course meetings
Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Assignment - Discussion

We will be talking more about content gaps; however, please select 2 of the questions posed and write a short (200-300 word) reflection to submit in Collab>Assignments>Content Gaps Discussion.  

Week 6

Course meetings
Wednesday, 26 February 2020
Assignment - Add to an article
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

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 7

Course meetings
Wednesday, 4 March 2020
Assignment - Discussion

Please select 2 of the questions posed and write a short (200-300 word) reflection to submit in Collab>Assignments>Thinking About Wikipedia Discussion.   

Week 8

Course meetings
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Milestones

Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.


Assignment - Peer review an article

Guiding framework

Week 9

Course meetings
Wednesday, 25 March 2020
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


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.


Assignment - Continue improving your article

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.


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 10

Course meetings
Wednesday, 1 April 2020
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!
Milestones

Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.