Welcome to the second module of the Queerpedia program!

Module 2: Wikipedia Essentials

Today’s agenda:

• Editing basics
• Wikipedia’s pillars, guidelines, and content policies
• Evaluating articles and sources/citations.
• Plagiarism and Copyrights.
• Translating articles.
• Elements of a Wikipedia article: how to leverage them �to foster advocacy.
• Q&A
• Creating a live article and wrap-up.

We will be together for:

3 hours

By the end of this session you will be able to:

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• …understand how Wikipedia’s pillars and core content policies shape the quality of its content.
• ….how to create an article from scratch.
• ...identify elements of a Wikipedia article you can use to foster LGBTQ+ advocacy.
• ….evaluate the quality of Wikipedia articles following a set of basic indicators.

Participation principles

If we have any doubts, we ask new questions

We participate actively and openly

We listen with attention and respect

We complete the assignments on time

We strive to become a supportive and respectful learning community

Getting to know you

Which emoji best represents your progress in the Queerpedia program so far?

🥳 - Motivated!

🤓 - Indifferent but will see it through

😅 - Exhausted but will keep pushing!

Which one best describes you!

Editing basics

• This program will help you leverage Wikipedia to foster media and information literacy skills in your classroom.
• It is divided in 3 Modules that cover the different elements and practices behind Wikipedia as they relate to UNESCO’s Media and Information Literacy framework.
• In order to obtain the corresponding certificate you must: attend all training sessions, complete corresponding activities on the forums, and submit final assignment by (DATE).

Remember:

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Wikipedia’s pillars, guidelines, and content policies

Getting to know you

2) Does Wikipedia have any strict rules?

👍 - Yes, definitely!

🙃 - I’m not 100% sure...

👎 - No, it doesn’t have strict rules - they can change

While it is true that there are no strict rules and no mandated hierarchy of power among volunteer editors, setting expectations that guide contribution to Wikipedia is essential. Wikipedia therefore follows sets of principles, guidelines, and policies that are collaboratively discussed and defined by its volunteers to guarantee the quality of the project.

Let’s get to know a few of them!

The fundamental principles

of Wikipedia may be summarized in

pillars

• A pillar is a symbol of strength, it ensures reliability and support.
• We use pillars to demonstrate the foundations on which something is built.
• Thousands of volunteers use their time, knowledge, and creativity to edit Wikipedia - collectively building the most accurate, complete, and accessible encyclopedia in the world.
• While it is true that there are no strict rules and no mandated hierarchy of power among volunteer editors, setting expectations that guide contribution to Wikipedia is essential.
• There are 5 fundamental principles, or pillars, by which Wikipedia operates

Wikipedia’s Pillars:

1. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia.
2. Wikipedia is written from a neutral point of view.
3. Wikipedia is free content that anyone can edit, use, modify, and distribute.
4. Editors should treat each other with respect and civility.
5. Wikipedia does not have firm rules.

Behavioral guidelines:

• Assume good faith - Wikipedia editors are encouraged to assume that people who work on the project are trying to help it, not hurt it.
• Do not disrupt Wikipedia to prove a point - Don’t spam Wikipedia, unfairly nominate articles for deletion, push rules, or create work for other people just to prove a point.
• Please do not bite the newcomers - Understand that many new contributors lack knowledge about Wikipedia policies and treat them kindly.
• Maintain etiquette - Respect contributors that have different views, perspectives, and backgrounds.

Core content policies:

• Neutral point of view

Wikipedia articles must be written from a neutral point of view, representing significant views fairly, proportionately and without bias.

• Verifiability

Material and quotations must be attributed to a reliable, published source. People reading and editing the encyclopedia should be able to check these sources.

• No original research

Wikipedia does not publish original thought or new analysis: all material in Wikipedia must be attributable to a reliable, published source.

Understanding these guidelines and the processes they frame raise awareness among our students about the construction of knowledge that takes place on Wikipedia: a collaborative endeavour of deep and constant research and dialogue among people from diverse sociocultural backgrounds.

The policies are important to help you navigate further.

It also models collaborative decision-making processes and foster more democratic learning communities.

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Exploring more elements of a Wikipedia article

Anatomy of a Wikipedia article

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Let’s take a closer look at the elements of a Wikipedia article and how they can help us evaluate its content.

Anatomy of a Wikipedia article

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Use the search box to look for more information without leaving Wikipedia.

Blue links allow you to explore more Wikipedia articles related to the topic. Red links indicate that the page does not exist yet but it probably should!

Anatomy of a Wikipedia article

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Certain badges on the top right corner can highlight the outstanding quality of an article after going through a structured peer review process. For example, this article is marked with a bronze star representing its status as a Featured Article - some of the best articles you can find on Wikipedia.

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Similarly, you can encounter warning banners indicating areas of improvement for an article, citations needed, or potential conflicts.

Anatomy of a Wikipedia article

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The lead section summarizes the article’s key points.

It provides students with an initial overview of the topic.

Anatomy of a Wikipedia article

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The “Talk” section shows discussions around the article’s content: disputes around facts or sources, suggestions for improvement, etc.

It shows how knowledge is constructed through informed exchanges, civil discussions, and collaboration.

Anatomy of a Wikipedia article

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If you click on the “View History” tab you can see the development of a Wikipedia article through a list of the contributions done by different volunteer editors.

Since everything is timestamped you can see how the article has evolved over time and how up-to-date the content is.

Anatomy of a Wikipedia article

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The numbers found along a Wikipedia article indicate the sources used to create it.

You can see a quick glimpse of the source by hovering the mouse over the numbers. If you click on them you will be taken to the References section where you will find all the sources listed.

Articles can be assessed according to the number and quality of sources they have.

The talkpage can also show certain quality standards based on content assessments established by the community of editors. Depending on the Wikipedia language edition you are visiting, this assessment system may vary, or sometimes not exist. On English Wikipedia, this content assessment is mainly performed by editors who are part of a WikiProject.

Article Class

Now let’s check it live

Let’s do a quick recap

Which one is the lead section of this Wikipedia article?

Choose the right answer and type it in the comments:

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A

B

Which option can show us a reference to a reliable source used in this Wikipedia article?

Choose the right answer and type it in the comments:

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B

A

Where can I find the date of the last time this article was updated?

Choose the right answer and type it in the comments:

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B

A

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References and verifiability

Why is verifiability important?:

• As you have seen in the previous module, the articles found in Wikipedia are based on reliable, published sources, making sure that all majority, and significant minority, views are referenced.
• If no reliable sources are found on a topic, Wikipedia will probably not have an article on it.
• Wikipedia does not publish original research. Well written, Wikipedia articles accurately summarize the facts, interpretations and opinions of these sources.
• In Wikipedia, verifiability means that any reader can confirm that the information in an article comes from a reliable source. These sources can be available either online or offline. If reliable sources disagree, editors seek a neutral point of view by presenting all reasonable opinions found in the sources for the article, giving each side due weight.

Types of sources

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Evaluating the content of a Wikipedia article

Providing indicators of quality

Once you have become familiar with the different elements and processes behind a Wikipedia article you can start identifying which of these are more relevant and helpful to the MIL skills you want to develop in your classroom. Here you can see a suggested set of positive and negative indicators of quality that students can pay attention to in order to evaluate a Wikipedia article:

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On Section 2.8 of the Teacher’s Guide you will find a proposal to define your own indicators of quality.

Positive indicators

• It contains several references from reliable sources.
• It has an informative and clear lead section.
• It covers different relevant aspects of one topic.
• It presents balanced and organized content.
• It is written from a neutral point of view.

Negative indicators

• It does not have any references.
• It has a warning banner.
• It contains spelling or grammatical errors.
• It contains outdated information about a current topic.
• It contains unsourced opinions and value statements.

Providing indicators of quality

For example, if a student were to evaluate the Wikipedia article on educationist Nadinne I. Cruz using these indicators they would notice that:

• It displays a warning banner expressing the need of more reliable sources.
• The lead section offers a concise and clear summary of the subject.
• The content is not too balanced, it needs more information.
• There is one paragraph that seems to contain opinions/unsourced comments.
• There are a good enough amount of external references to continue learning about the subject.

Brain-storm

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So how do you think the article can be better.

Integrating indicators of quality into a class activity: My Knowledge Quest

Here you can see a proposed activity: My Knowledge Quest.

Through this worksheet participants document their search for information on Wikipedia, critically evaluate the information they find, and identify how to continue their research beyond Wikipedia.

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Plagiarism and Copyrights

First thing first

Wikipedia is a free resource for everyone. Because everyone can use it, copy it, and re-use it freely, it can't contain restricted, copyrighted material.

You probably know that copying-and-pasting from a book or website and claiming it as your own work is plagiarism. That's the most egregious example, but it isn't the only one.

The stakes of plagiarism are high. It could be a violation of your student code of conduct, and could get you banned from editing Wikipedia.

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Lets watch this video

Types of Plagiarism

As you saw in the video, there are three basic types of plagiarism:

• Unattributed plagiarism, where you copy text and don't credit the author.
• Plagiarism of cited sources, where you copy text exactly (even when you credit the author).
• Close paraphrasing, where you just slightly change the text of another author (cited or not).

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Avoid close paraphrasing

Here are some tips to avoid close paraphrasing:

• Find a few different sources, and take notes in your own writing. Write notes like you were explaining the idea to a friend, rather than just transcribing the source.
• Don't write your article with your original sources open in front of you. Take careful notes, then reference your notes as you write your article. When you're done, re-read the article. This time, make frequent references to your original sources to verify that they're not too similar.
• Start by taking notes of key concepts, not phrases, from your sources, noting where each came from.

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Take a look at this original (fictional) passage. Then, look at the options below. Choose the one you think is an acceptable way to present that information on Wikipedia.

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Dr. Bickford wrote that 25% of eligible Adamawa voters supported a measure to limit the space afforded to cattle rearing in urban spaces."

Research suggests that the 1967 support for cattle grazing in Adamawa was the result of confused voters and unclear balloting questions."

Most Adamawa voters couldn't understand the ballot question, so most voted in favor of limiting the space cattle could use to graze in the city."

In 1967, a quarter of votes approved a measure limiting the space for cattle in Adamawa. Some researchers suggest this was a result of a confusing memorandum, and that more voters would have supported limiting grazing space if the ballot was more clear."

Copyright

Wikipedia is a free resource that anyone can use. But don't assume that you can upload anything to Wikipedia.

In fact, because anyone can copy and re-use Wikipedia's content, it's crucial that you never upload any material that isn't explicitly allowed to be shared.

We already discussed copying and pasting material from an author, even with a citation, as being a copyright violation.

The same goes for using song lyrics, quotations, or copyrighted educational materials.

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Translating articles

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Be bold!

Wikipedia Editing Guidelines:

1. Be bold!�Wikipedia not only allows you to add and edit articles: it wants you to do it!
2. Fix it yourself instead of just talking about it�In the time it takes to write about a problem, you could instead improve the encyclopedia.
3. Do not be upset if your bold edits get reverted�Editors are working towards making Wikipedia as goon an encyclopedia as possible, remember to assume good faith and act with civility.

Why create a Wikipedia user account?

• You can choose a username, which will be reserved just for you on Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects.
• You can create your own user page to collaborate, share information about yourself and your interests, or just practice editing and publishing in your own sandbox.
• You can communicate with other editors via your own talk page.
• You can edit without revealing your IP address (which can be used to trace your physical location) to the public.

What do you need to create a Wikipedia user account and user page?

• Email account (not mandatory but highly recommended!)
• Internet connection to access Wikipedia in your language of choice
• An appropriate username/pseudonym that is different from your email address
• A desire to click that “edit” button and start practicing!

Now we’ll show you how it can be done step-by-step!

Let’s do a quick recap

What should your do when you see this banner on a Wikipedia article?

Choose the right answer and type it in the comments:

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1. Pay more attention to the tone and intention of the text as there might be a conflict of interest, look for more references

1. t
2. Close Wikipedia immediately, that article has been compromised

What positive indicator of quality can you identify in this Wikipedia article?

Choose the right answer and type it in the comments:

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B) It has an informative and clear lead section

1. A)t

A) I can see it contains multiple references to authoritative sources

Only professors, academics, and people with highly specialized skills and knowledge should edit Wikipedia.

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TRUE

FALSE

If I want to work with other Wikipedia editors, request support, join collaborative initiatives, etc. I will only find editors in the USA and Europe.

TRUE

FALSE

Thank you for your time and active participation!

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Image: Blanca Flores / CC BY-SA