[Wikipedia-l] Look Who's Using Wikipedia

[Ray Saintonge]

Stan Shebs wrote:

>>As students begin their online research, they could view the
>>prevalence of Wikipedia references in Google as proof of the accuracy
>>and reliability of the source. Given the search exposure and sheer
>>volume of data available on the site, they might fall into the trap of
>>relying on a single source for their education.
>>    
>>
>What we *really* want is for people to pass through WP on the way to our 
>sources and references and external links, and use those for citations 
>instead of WP. I think we say that somewhere, but what else can we do to 
>drive home the point? I've added some really topnotch books as 
>references for articles, and yet when I go back to the library, those 
>books are still sitting on the shelves, when they should be checked out 
>nonstop.
>
As the messengers we can very well say, "Don't shoot the messenger."  
Anyone whose not a virgin newbie to Wikipedia is aware of the 
limitations that you state.  I generally agree with those teachers who 
reject Wikipedia as the sole source on which students base their 
articles, but it would be inappropriate to downgrade an essay simply 
because it uses Wikipedia as one source amoung others. 

The real failing is with those educational establishments who have 
neglected to give students, from a very early stage, the tools with 
which to critically evaluate the information that they receive.  Instead 
of viewing the internet as a source of mischief to be turned off, it is 
important that teachers and parents alike recognize it as a primary 
source of information for students.  The paradox that educators find 
themselves in is that the student who makes judgements about the 
information he receives online is also likely to use the same criteria 
for making similar judgements about information provided by the educators.

Ec