24.9.07

 

Why you can't cite Wikipedia in my class

A reasoned argument about some of the limitations of Wikipedia. Spotted by my colleague Mahesh Marina.

Comments:
Hi - I couldn't follow the link that you provided, however this one seems to work:

http://portal.acm.org/ft_gateway.cfm?id=1284635&type=pdf&coll=GUIDE&dl=&CFID=15151515&CFTOKEN=6184618

Rich
 
A teacher who needs a "policy" about whether Wikipedia can be used or cited must be a very bad teacher indeed. Teaching is about making students understand, not follow silly "policies" which might be reasonable in one situation and stupid in another situation.

A good teacher might use this incident to correct the Wikipedia entry together with his students, and devote one class as to why Wikipedia should not be used for citing and should be used with precaution as yet one additional source of knowledge.

A bad teacher uses the incident to "propose a policy".

I pity his students.
 
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