I have enjoyed the discussions about the value of print and non-print encyclopedias in our coursework, both established and citizen-built. Like others have suggested, there is little point in trying to diminish or put restrictions on the use of Wikipedia - we all likely use it ourselves, and it is hard to resist when it pops up so quickly after a google search (which in itself, is another research issue, sigh).
Again and again, we find, as TLs, that our challenge is to help guide students through information, not around it by avoiding popular sites. If we don't teach the critical site evaluation skills, students will continue to use these sites, but without the proper tools to navigate them.
Reidling (2005) brings up an excellent point in chapter six: "Many people believe that all encyclopedias are objective. This is not the case." Even with our tried and true print encyclopedias, Riedling cautions us to be aware of which subjects get larger articles, which ones seems to contain "passive or implicit bias," and have topics de-emphasized or emphasized. Really, is anything that we read completely free of bias?
Wikipedia, in my opinion, is a form of social networking - it is a forum for information, communication, and opinion. How we read it and use it is ours to handle.
Riedling makes a further great point in chapter six: "remember that encyclopedias are published as a profit venture, one way or another."
Again and again, we find, as TLs, that our challenge is to help guide students through information, not around it by avoiding popular sites. If we don't teach the critical site evaluation skills, students will continue to use these sites, but without the proper tools to navigate them.
Reidling (2005) brings up an excellent point in chapter six: "Many people believe that all encyclopedias are objective. This is not the case." Even with our tried and true print encyclopedias, Riedling cautions us to be aware of which subjects get larger articles, which ones seems to contain "passive or implicit bias," and have topics de-emphasized or emphasized. Really, is anything that we read completely free of bias?
Wikipedia, in my opinion, is a form of social networking - it is a forum for information, communication, and opinion. How we read it and use it is ours to handle.
Riedling makes a further great point in chapter six: "remember that encyclopedias are published as a profit venture, one way or another."
No comments:
Post a Comment