Wikipedia

[FlutterbyMommy]

Do you allow your children to use this as a resource or reference material for citation? I spoke Monday with a friend who is a teacher for the gifted program at a local public school. She shared that she allowed her students to use Wikipedia for research and citation. It shocked me, but she couldn't understand why. So I wondered if use of the site is common.

 

My DD is not young, so this isn't an issue yet. But when I attended my university, using Wikipedia as a source or for research was simply not allowed. It is not a solid reference source, as it is open-source/user generated. I assumed that stance would be the same across the board in education.

 

Now I understand people may check the site for quick facts or curiosity. But how do you view it as a source for research and citation?

 

Also, I do know there is recent media attention surrounding the site because of child pornography access which may be available there. This may certainly move people to prevent their children from using this source. But I am curious outside of this specific issue, what is your perspective on using the site in home educating? Do you see it as a valid reference source like a traditional encyclopedia?

[Mrs.W]

My 6th grader who goes to a classical school was allowed to use Wikipedia for research papers. I was shocked too, but I think at this age the focus is more on how to write a research paper. If it were high school, I'd have a problem with it.

[Cinder]

My high schooler goes to a private school and they are not allowed to use Wikipedia. They are allowed to use other internet sources, just not Wikipedia.

 

I have used Wikipedia with my younger ds when he was in 4th/5th. The info is condensed and easier for him to outline for presentations or reports. But now that he's in 6th I prefer he use books so he can learn to fiugre out how to find the info he needs.

 

Cinder

[Night Elf]

Just looking things up for interest, no problems.

For school assignments? Nope.

 

We use Keystone and they don't allow Wikipedia as a resource.

[Paula in PA]

As a resource for a paper? No. But as part of a starting point, to get somewhat familiar with a topic, that's ok. I've used it that way myself, last semester. It can give a quick overview and maybe generate ideas for further research. But I would never cite it as a resource.

[BridgeTea]

I guide my daughter through internet searches at this point, and tell her to use Wiki as a last resort just because it is user-generated and may not be her most reliable source. These searches are just to look up something interesting she's come across in her reading, and she wants to find out more - the fun type searches.

 

If she's writing a paper and citing her sources, no, Wiki isn't acceptable for that here.

[m0mmaBuck]

My DSS attends a public high school and is allowed to use Wiki as his end-all-beat-all resource for papers. It drives me absolutely crazy. It's just another reason that the younger two won't be attending that school.

[Orthodox6]

No way ! ! ! Wiki's are a fun read, but worthless for reliability within an academic setting.

[meet me in paris]

As a resource for a paper? No. But as part of a starting point, to get somewhat familiar with a topic, that's ok. I've used it that way myself, last semester. It can give a quick overview and maybe generate ideas for further research. But I would never cite it as a resource.

:iagree:

I teach college research methods. We teach students to use Wikipedia as a starting point to get some background info on an unfamiliar subject, then to use that broad info as a portal to better sources. Using a site like Wikipedia will give you additional keywords to use as well as link you to some reputable sources online and print.

[KAR120C]

The way I explained it to DS (ages ago) is that Wiki entries are right up there with "my mom said" as a reference. You can always ask your mom what she thinks, you can always look up Wikipedia, but neither one of them is sufficient for supporting a point in a paper. For that I'd like an author I can track down, with a background I can find something about, and ideally an institution that stands behind him or her. Peer-reviewed is even better.

 

Wikipedia (or what your mom says... LOL) is a fine place to start -- as a previous poster has already said it can get you a better idea of what to look for in your further searching. But if you can't find a real reference that supports what you found in the Wiki entry, then as far as I'm concerned it doesn't exist.

Edited May 22, 2010 by KAR120C

[wy_kid_wrangler04]

Nope!

[Ester Maria]

You cannot quote a resource that no concrete person with their own resources and credentials stands by and that is a subject to change ("encyclopaedia anyone can edit").

A completely separate issue is the fact that you cannot use "too general" materials AT ALL when writing a rather specific thesis, which includes ALL encyclopaediae (even the reliable ones) - you cannot write an essay in History based on "general books", it has to be done by the books and articles from the field. But that's, as I said, another question and more appropriate to discuss at high school level than middle school. Wikipedia, though, goes for all levels.

 

Use it for your own research? Sure, but keep in mind that its credibility in an academic context is, as somebody wrote before, along the lines of "my mom says".

[junepep]

Although I don't have children old enough to be writing papers, I can tell you my response would be a resounding no. Although I occasionally link to wiki articles for a quick quote or to give someone a brief idea about something it is not even close to being a resource worthy of using in a research paper IMO :/ I'm just... boggled that she(he?) would allow this.

[lionfamily1999]

What grade does the teacher teach? DD was allowed to use Wiki for papers in 4-6th, but they cut it off at 7th grade. The idea was to get the kids used to looking for any source (and Wiki is easy). Once they got used to finding sources, they had to start finding "good" sources.

 

Ds and I have used Wiki, but we're more inclined to run a search and check out sites that end in "org" or "gov." :lol:

[CroppinIt]

We're not to the paper-writing stage yet, but I thought you might be interested. My husband is a community college teacher. He doesn't allow it as a resource in his classes.

[Ester Maria]

Although I occasionally link to wiki articles for a quick quote or to give someone a brief idea about something

Just a quick observation on this - I probably did that sometime on the boards too. Or in an email, or when I want somebody to quickly familiarize themselves with an idea. I don't see anything problematic in it, we aren't in a formal academic setting, nor we are participating in a serious debate here. We're talking here on a "coffee talk" level, most of the time.

 

The problem is when you start using resources of debatable authorship, with debatable credentials, which are unstable and which anyone can edit, in an academic context. And while middle school is certainly not university and nothing "bad" will happen if a 13 y.o. cites Wikipedia, some bad habits are better never introduced at all - that's at least been my stance regarding the Wikipedia issue (and a whole lot of other things when you magically change the rules so what was good at 13 becomes "intellectual dishonesty" or "manipulating" or "suspicious sources" at 17 and similar stuff).

[Food4Thought]

The good Wikipedia articles almost have a large list of references and links attached to them - I use it for a jump-off point, and then go surfing for more information from there (including checking out books). When my kids are old enough for research papers, I'll teach them to do the same.

[Jamee]

:iagree:

I teach college research methods. We teach students to use Wikipedia as a starting point to get some background info on an unfamiliar subject, then to use that broad info as a portal to better sources. Using a site like Wikipedia will give you additional keywords to use as well as link you to some reputable sources online and print.

 

This has we use it too. I'm teaching my DCs that it's a good start but not always truly reliable.

[lailasmum]

I think its a great quick reference and jumping off point for research but the fact pages can be changed by the public is the worrying thing. I know there are several actors who have wikipedia pages and who have had problems with basic facts about them being changed by people with a grudge.

 

 

There is this alternative started by the same people which may be of more use in the future http://en.citizendium.org

[asta]

:iagree:

I teach college research methods. We teach students to use Wikipedia as a starting point to get some background info on an unfamiliar subject, then to use that broad info as a portal to better sources. Using a site like Wikipedia will give you additional keywords to use as well as link you to some reputable sources online and print.

 

I specifically dropped a graduate research methods course because of this. I find it to be poor form.

 

I feel that, at the graduate level, if a student is unable to find source material without having to use a site that has already put them in an aggregated form (for lack of a better term), then they aren't ready for that level of study.

 

Further, I find Wiki to be poorly documented. I work at a site that was the very first user created / user friendly mental health site - and is still the only personally owned one of its type that is meticulous about backing up all of its writing with scientific journal articles and research (eg: we pre-existed WebMD). I cannot tell you how much of our content has been lifted, word for word, and put on wiki with no attribution whatsoever. Intellectual property theft is theft, plain and simple.

 

 

asta

[FlutterbyMommy]

What grade does the teacher teach? DD was allowed to use Wiki for papers in 4-6th, but they cut it off at 7th grade. The idea was to get the kids used to looking for any source (and Wiki is easy). Once they got used to finding sources, they had to start finding "good" sources.

 

Ds and I have used Wiki, but we're more inclined to run a search and check out sites that end in "org" or "gov." :lol:

 

She is an elementary target teacher (gifted specific). So , she deals with multiple grades all elementary age.

 

It just seemed like a bad idea/habit to start. I see general reference to get a snapshot about something for personal information.

[lionfamily1999]

She is an elementary target teacher (gifted specific). So , she deals with multiple grades all elementary age.

 

It just seemed like a bad idea/habit to start. I see general reference to get a snapshot about something for personal information.

I agree, but I can see how they justify it.

[EKS]

They are not allowed to use Wikipedia at the local high school as a reference and so I don't allow my son to use it. I do let him read the entries as much as he wants. I just don't let him cite it.