---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Itzik Edri itzik@infra.co.il Date: 10 June 2014 14:45 Subject: [Wmfcc-l] [PRESS] Public schools to integrate Wikipedia into curriculum To: Communications Committee wmfcc-l@lists.wikimedia.org

Following Jan-Bart's visit in Israel. Published today on the print & online version and here is the English version: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=18059

We'll later publish a blog post about it (we are waiting to the social-media team response).

*Public schools to integrate Wikipedia into curriculum*

*Education Minister Shay Piron meets with Wikimedia Foundation Chairman Jan-Bart de Vreede, announces that the state's public schools will instruct teachers on how to teach students to write content for Wikipedia in Hebrew and other languages.*

Yael Branovsky and Israel Hayom Staff

Online encyclopedia project Wikipedia is a known research shortcut for students seeking online information and sources for their written assignments. But now, a new initiative promoted by the Education Ministry is seeking to have Israeli students produce Wikiepdia entries themselves.

The program was suggested last week during a meeting between Education Minister Shay Piron and Wikimedia Foundation Chairman Jan-Bart de Vreede, with the Education Ministry expressing interest in integrating Wikipedia into its "meaningful learning" initiative.

A statement posted on the Education Ministry's website read, "Meaningful language learning is characterized by its being active, constructive, authentic and cooperative. Learners are motivated when they have the opportunity to engage in activities that they feel are useful in their lives."

To integrate Wikipedia, history, geography or science teachers would undergo a professional training program that would instruct them on how to help students complete Wikipedia entries.

In addition, the ministry is weighing whether to allow students who speak foreign languages or whose mother tongue is not Hebrew to write entries on Wikipedia sites in other languages, the goal of which is also to help improve Israel's image abroad.

The Education Ministry stressed that the initiative is a win-win situation for all sides. On the one hand, students will help broaden the breadth of Hebrew Wikipedia's entries, and on the other hand students will be able to develop the ability to research, write and edit informative articles, helping to both filter out wrong information and verify what has already been written.

Worldwide, the program marks the largest joint initiative between public education and the Wikipedia movement.

"It is important that the education system in Israel leads in innovation, and this joint effort with Wikipedia is a wonderful opportunity to think outside the box, which lets students in Israel do impactful things that others can enjoy," Piron said.

De Vreede praised Israel for championing the integration of Wikipedia into the education system and academia.

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