Expert outreach/Jisc Ambassador/Research impact and open education

"Wikimedia: linking research impact and open education" is a series of workshops given by Martin Poulter from October 2013 to March 2014 as part of the Wikimedia UK/Jisc collaboration. These will usually be given as part of an institution's existing teaching innovation seminar, or elearning seminar.

The intended outcomes of the workshops are:

1. a raised awareness among academics of Wikimedia, its different projects, and its relevance to their own goals as educators and researchers
2. a growing list of academic contacts who are interested in engaging with Wikipedia as educators and/or researchers, and who have realistic expectations about the opportunities and pitfalls.

This effort will be supported with case studies and other media, which will be linked from this page.

Contact Martin via martin.poulterwikimedia.org.uk to request a workshop in your own institution, or with any other query about this series of workshops.

Abstract

Wikipedia does not just aim to provide free knowledge to everyone in the world: it actively invites everyone to contribute. It sees the public not just as recipients but as potential creators and remixers of its text, images and other media. At the same time, it seeks credibility and expects to cite the most reliable sources in each subject. Educational assignments on Wikipedia, or its sister sites, are a chance for students to experience publication and to create their own educational materials. Dozens of universities are now setting assignments in which students improve Wikipedia, in effect creating their own textbook.

With a mix of activities, this workshop will show how learners are already creating and remixing material within Wikipedia, and take participants through some of the steps in designing an educational activity around the research resources in their subject area. It will look at specific examples, and realistically set out the advantages and pitfalls.

No previous experience of wiki editing is assumed.

Locations and dates

• University of Oxford, 15 October 2013
• University of Newcastle, 3 December 2013
• Bath Spa University, date TBC
• EduWiki Conference 2013
• Others to be confirmed: the project plan specifies six academic-facing events, but more might be possible depending on the demand created.

This page has been created as part of the 2013-14 partnership between Jisc and Wikimedia UK