During every class in my undergraduate studies, all I heard was "Do not use wikipedia."
After graduating from undergrad, the number one source I use when I have a question is wikipedia. This is because of the easy access the website has and how I have never personally had a problem with it. Would I ever use it for a paper for my graduate work? No. Simply because the danger of using a source that anyone could change.
From reading numerous articles on the "wiki movement", I was surprised to find some education using wiki type websites to enhance their classes. Teachers are beating the system at their own game by having students post their own research on the site. I think this is awesome because similar to any technology, wiki resources can be used to benefit one or tear down.
I think wiki resources fit our culture and time very well. We live in a very fast pace culture, where time for research is extremely limited. This resources allow people to get the information they need without the fight of a library or reading an eighteen page online article. Therefore, I think educators are doing well when they are introducing students to them early. Also, with teaching students how to make and add their own additions to the wiki sites, the students are seeing how the information is put on. Hopefully, this will show the students that even though the site has good information, that kids like them developed the website. With the students realizing this, they will see that they may need other websites in order to prove their information from the wiki site is correct. Which is what they should do in gaining any information from the web.
After graduating from undergrad, the number one source I use when I have a question is wikipedia. This is because of the easy access the website has and how I have never personally had a problem with it. Would I ever use it for a paper for my graduate work? No. Simply because the danger of using a source that anyone could change.
From reading numerous articles on the "wiki movement", I was surprised to find some education using wiki type websites to enhance their classes. Teachers are beating the system at their own game by having students post their own research on the site. I think this is awesome because similar to any technology, wiki resources can be used to benefit one or tear down.
I think wiki resources fit our culture and time very well. We live in a very fast pace culture, where time for research is extremely limited. This resources allow people to get the information they need without the fight of a library or reading an eighteen page online article. Therefore, I think educators are doing well when they are introducing students to them early. Also, with teaching students how to make and add their own additions to the wiki sites, the students are seeing how the information is put on. Hopefully, this will show the students that even though the site has good information, that kids like them developed the website. With the students realizing this, they will see that they may need other websites in order to prove their information from the wiki site is correct. Which is what they should do in gaining any information from the web.