Almost 25 years since its inception, Wikipedia remains a timely and relevant part of the “open movement.” In 2010, The Wikipedia Student Program came onto the scene, bringing together Wikipedia’s drive for open access and open knowledge with the emerging world of open pedagogy. A simple yet powerful concept: Students at postsecondary institutions contribute to Wikipedia as a course assignment. Guided by their professors, they update critical information on Wikipedia by opening up knowledge typically behind paywalls. In this panel, you’ll hear from three faculty (in the fields of Geography, Computer Information Systems, and Composition) who are running Wikipedia-based assignments in their courses. We’ll explore how Wiki Education is supporting thousands of students each term in this open pedagogical practice. We’ll cover the critical role students can play in opening up knowledge and what they learn from engaging in this essential work.
Attendees of this session will be able to:- Recognize the pedagogical value of running a Wikipedia assignment.
- Summarize how to implement a Wikipedia assignment into a course.
- Assess the role Wikipedia can play in open pedagogy.
- Identify the role students can play in filling in critical knowledge equity gaps.
- Appraise how the Wikipedia assignment can foster digital literacy and digital citizenship.
