Another Article For Twinkl Looks At The Limitations of Wikipedia
Wikipedia, launched in 2001, is a widely used online encyclopaedia that allows users to collaboratively create, edit, and curate articles on a vast range of topics. And since then it's been a pretty crucial tool for any student looking to write an essay or finish a project. Probably at midnight the night before it's due.
With over 55 million articles in more than 300 languages, Wikipedia covers subjects spanning from history and science to pop culture and current events. It has become a go-to source of information for many internet users, offering easily accessible and usually well-referenced articles.
Wikipedia's universal accessibility, available in numerous languages, further bolsters its widespread use. Students, researchers, professionals, and curious individuals alike turn to its articles for initial overviews, in-depth insights, and citation-worthy content.
While Wikipedia is a valuable starting point for research, caution is needed due to its open editing system. Information can be inaccurate, biased, or subject to vandalism. It lacks the rigorous review processes of peer-reviewed sources. It's wise to corroborate facts from reputable, scholarly resources. However, Wikipedia can provide general context and sources for further exploration, making it useful when used critically and supplemented with reliable references.
Read on for an excerpt from my article:
The Limitations and Benefits of Using Wikipedia as a Starting Point
Let’s be clear: there’s nothing wrong with using Wikipedia as a starting point. It’s wonderful for finding a quick summary. Or a topic overview. It’s a convenient first step for research. And a great way to refresh your memory before getting stuck in.
However, it is vital to know its drawbacks:
Credibility Concerns: Wikipedia's open editing system means anyone can add or edit content. This includes jokes and other silly bits and pieces.
Lack of In-Depth Analysis: As an encyclopedia, Wikipedia offers concise information but it’s incredibly basic. Beyond timelines and reports of events, there’s not much in terms of analysis and interpretation.
Limited Citations: Wikipedia includes citations like those little references at the bottom of the page. This is useful. But those references might not be reliable or from reputable sources. Sometimes they might be outright lies, or not exist at all.
At the end of the day, it’s fine to use Wikipedia. It’s a life-saver. You can gain a brief understanding of a subject at a glance. But try to discourage students from relying on it for everything.
Instead, look at exploring other sources to support their research. The only question is: where do you start?
Introducing Students to Diverse and Authoritative Sources Beyond Encyclopedias
Expand your students' horizons by showing them a variety of alternative sources that can enrich their research projects.
There are lots out there. But here are some examples to start with:
Academic Databases: JSTOR is a great place to look. There are some handy alternative databases like ProQuest, and EBSCOhost too. These get you access to peer-reviewed articles, research papers, and scholarly publications about all sorts.
Reputable Websites: Your pupils can’t go wrong with government sites, educational institutions, and well-known organisations. Pupils can learn to find these by looking for sites with ‘gov’ or ‘ac’ in the name. Keywords such as ‘news’ alongside the topic or title in a Google search can be helpful too.
Books and e-books: Libraries are ignored, and it’s a real shame. Don't overlook the value of books and e-books. They offer in-depth analysis, historical context, and expert insights that can complement their research. Looking for answers outside a screen is also a good habit to have.
Exploring Academic Databases, Scholarly Journals, and Reputable Websites
You can show your students how to use academic databases and narrow down search queries. Advanced search options are life-savers! And get the most relevant information. Filters are good too. You can seek out peer-reviewed articles and other academic publications that way.
When exploring scholarly journals, tricks to navigate through articles like the find function will be useful time savers for your pupils if they’re looking for something specific. Discuss the usefulness of citing journals in their academic work. It’ll leave such an impact on their work.
You can also help your pupils check their sources. If they get into a habit of looking through author credentials, publication dates, and organisational affiliations, this will set them in good stead for their research too.
As a heads-up, not all your pupils might know the jargon like a ‘peer-reviewed article’. So a glossary of key terms can make all the difference. Anything written by professionals in a subject which are checked by other experts is a lot more reliable.
Encouraging Students to Engage with Primary Sources and Original Research Materials
This is a cracking habit to start with your classes. You can promote primary sources like first-hand accounts, original documents, artefacts, and interviews. You’ll see this a lot in subjects like history, geography and English. So why not get some top tips from your colleagues as well?
Engaging with these materials allows students to access direct evidence and gain unique insights into their research topics.
With the right tools at hand to question each source’s reliability, they will start gathering useful information that will really help their research and essay writing stand out.
Pupils can seek out primary sources through archival repositories, historical societies, and online digital collections too. As an extra activity, why not chat about how primary sources strengthen authenticity and depth of research?
In doing so, pupils will start to pick up on these ways to make their work more compelling and insightful.
Check out this Internet Scavenger Hunt.
If you want to find out more about finding credible information online, why not head over to my other articles on the subject.
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