One of the benefits of the Internet is that we can use it to show students real academic dialogue. More importantly, we can also encourage them to become part of that dialogue.

I recently required my history students to become involved in the national dialogue concerning Wikipedia. Students were assigned to read an article and the immediate responses to it. They were also required to read a blog entry that responded to the original article.

After I showed them my responses to the original article and the blog entry, I encouraged them to become involved in the national discussion by giving the following assignment.

Although this assignment specifically addresses Wikipedia, I think it could be used for other issues as well.

Directions for Assignment

I want you to be part of the national dialogue concerning Wikipedia. Therefore, I want you to prepare an appropriate response to either “A Stand Against Wikipedia,” “Why I Won’t Get Hired at Middlebury,” or “Wikepedia as a Teaching Tool.” You also have the option of preparing a response to any public discussion of Wikepdeia.

You are to post your response no later than the beginning of class on Thursday, February 15.

Because “Wikepedia as a Teaching Tool” appears on my blog, you must send an e-mail to me in order to post a reply.

If you reply to another web site, please send me an e-mail to let me know that you have submitted a comment. In your e-mail, include the URL for the web site. Also, don’t forget to sign the e-mail with your full name. I am aware that all three of the sites I mentioned in class—as well as many others—are moderated. Therefore, don’t be alarmed that I will go read your response before it is posted. If it isn’t there when I check, I will check back later.

In order to receive credit for this assignment, you must post your comments using your full name.

Directions for Students
Who Prefer Not to Post Comments

Because I am aware that to publicly post comments might be too uncomfortable for some students, you have the option of writing an appropriate response and then sending it to me instead of posting it. If you take this option, please provide the URL for the site where you think your response is appropriate.

If you respond to my blog and do not want your comments published, you need to explicity state that your comments are not for publication. If you forget to let me know that your comments were not meant for publication on my blog and they do get posted, I will, of course, remove them at your request.

Related Blog Entry

• Wikipedia as a Teaching Tool
  Posted: February 4, 2007

–Steven L. Berg, PhD