[Web4lib] The Wikipedia Gotcha -- the student perspective

[Craig, Emory]

Mike,

I agree that the student offers a sensationalized version of the truth.
Point in fact: one cannot really "ban" Wikipedia any more than one can
ban any web site; students will still get access. And the student seems
to realize that Wikipedia is not an appropriate source. My point (and
again, I am not agreeing with article) was just that the terms of the
debate are shifting. 

You are right: who would cite Britannica or any other encyclopedia as a
source? No one. But who would cast that prohibition in terms of elitism,
arrogance, a threat to democracy, etc., etc. No one. Emerging
technologies are not just new tools; they also are having (IMHO) an
impact on users' perceptions. The academy is changing very slowly (just
look at the tenure process) but a younger generation is being weaned on
a very different experience of collaboration and sharing. 

There's some good material on this issue in the new 2007 Horizon Report
issued yesterday by the New Media Consortium and the EDUCAUSE Learning
Initiative. 

-e

Emory Craig
Director of Academic Computing
The College of New Rochelle
914-654-5536

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Taylor [mailto:mike at indexdata.com] 
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 9:04 AM
To: Craig, Emory
Cc: web4lib at webjunction.org
Subject: RE: [Web4lib] The Wikipedia Gotcha -- the student perspective

Craig, Emory writes:
 > Since the Wikipedia thread has been going strong, let me add one
 > more element to the fray. An item from Campus Technology's News
 > Update says that Middlebury College has banned student use of the
 > site. While I have some issues with Wikipedia, banning is probably
 > the worst solution possible.

This seems to be a sensationalised version of the truth.  The article
itself suggests, and some of the comments seems to confirm, that
Wikipedia is accessible from Middlebury College as before -- only that
it should not be cited in academic work submitted to the college.
Well: we all knew that already, didn't we?

And, seriously, is there anyone here who would cite _Britannica_ or
any other encyclopedia in an academic work?

 _/|_
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http://www.miketaylor.org.uk
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