Well, I had a fellow librarian tell me this event concerning Wikipedia.
She had a coming in to do research on WWII. Two other students, who knew of
the impending assignment, went into Wikipedia and changed the names of some
of the German military leaders to teachers and others in the school. They
also changed some of the dates. When the class came in to do the research,
some of them blithely used Wikipedia despite the warnings. When their first
draft papers were submitted they were very surprised to find that they had
a lot of red circles and a note to do better research. They complained to
the librarian, because they said they had only used the information they had
found during her research time. She went on Wikipedia to check and found
the incorrect info. They then were made to sit down and use the acceptable
sites she had bookmarked as starting points for the class and to re-write
their first draft. She printed the incorrect info from Wikipedia and uses
it as an explanation of why no teacher in her school will accept Wikipedia
as a source. She eventually tracked down the culprits who did all the
changing and made them re-edit the article to her satisfaction - along with
spending a few days in after-school detention for using the school computers
to create problems for others.
Toni Koontz
Librarian
St. Charles Preparatory School
Columbus, Ohio
akoontz@cdeducation.org
Carpe Diem
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kris Fallon" <librarychickie@GMAIL.COM>
To: <LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU>
Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 9:08 AM
Subject: Why NOT Wikapedia
> Looking for some brief hard cold facts as to why wikapedia is should not
> be
> a "citeable" source for research. Presenting to faculty today and there
> are
> some big advocates of it who will claim it is just as reliable as
> Worldbook.
>
> Kristina Fallon Tomaino
> Robert Morris School, LMS k-8
> South Bound Brook NJ
> librarychickie@gmail.com
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
> You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
> by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
> To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
> In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
> 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
> * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
> * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
> * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
> * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
> * LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings
by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
* LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
* LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
* EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://lm-net.info/
* LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
* LM_NET Wiki: http://lmnet.wikispaces.com/
--------------------------------------------------------------------
LM_NET
Mailing List Home