Use+of+Wikipedia+in+the+Classroom

Preparing Students for Wikipedia
Before students should dive in to Wikipedia as the source of all knowledge, they should first understand what they are working with. In preparing students to use Wikipedia, it needs to be stressed that Wikipedia is an excellent starting point, a springboard into their research. It cannot be the ONLY research that a student does. It also cannot be accepted at face value. Students need to evaluate all the information found on Wikipedia for its accuracy and validity. The following is a list of what students need to look for when evaluating information found in Wikipedia: //(Johnson, 2007)//
 * Students need to examine multiple sources and look for the same information.
 * Students need to look at the date that the Wikipedia page was written or updated.
 * Students need to examine the author of Wikipedia entry for their credentials and affiliation.
 * Students need to identify any biases that the author might have included in the entry.

Another way to help students understand how to use Wikipedia as a research tool is to check out Wikipedia themselves. The following is an excellent link to a Wikipedia resource page that can help students to understand how to use Wikipedia while researching. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Researching_with_Wikipedia

Information to Share with Parents
Parental involvement in a student’s work is vital. When parents take a look at the issue of their child using Wikipedia in the classroom, it is important for them to be informed about this cite and what it offers as far as being a valuable research tool. The following are links to some commonly asked questions that might help explain what a parent needs to know about using Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Schools%27_FAQ http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7026.pdf

How to Use Wikipedia in the Classroom
Teachers may look at Wikipedia as a valuable starting point for research, but wonder how to incorporate the use of Wikipedia into the classroom. The following is a sample lesson plan that helps show how Wikipedia works and how students should use it. The lesson plan works for many different subject areas. Check it out! http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20051205monday.html