Hi Ambassadors,
Please stress this point to all students you work with: Students may
NOT copy and paste any information into Wikipedia, even into a
sandbox.
I know many students copy and paste material from references into a
document as the first stage of their writing process, and then sort
out what to cite and what to paraphrase later, but this practice is
unacceptable on Wikipedia. Even sandboxes are considered content on
Wikipedia, and any text we host that is copied and pasted from another
source is a violation of copyright law for which we can get into legal
trouble.
Please reiterate to all of your students, both in class and online,
that *any* information they add, *anywhere* on Wikipedia (even
sandboxes), absolutely *cannot* be copied and pasted from elsewhere.
If students go through the copying references to gather information as
a first step in their writing process, they should do so offline.
Thanks for stressing this very important point to your students,
LiAnna
--
LiAnna Davis
Global Education Program Communications Manager
Wikimedia Foundation
http://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Global_Education_Program
(415) 839-6885 x6649
ldavis(a)wikimedia.org
Welcome to the Global Education Update — a newsletter from the Wikimedia Foundation that is distributed the first and third Tuesday of each month. Someone from our staff has talked with you about our Global Education Program to bring Wikipedia into higher education classrooms around the world, and we wanted to keep you in the loop on all of our exciting activities. If you would prefer not to receive these messages, simply reply to the email and ask for your address to be removed. Learn more about subscribing and read the archives here:
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
U.S. Education Program professor blogs about his experiences
"I was never a fan of Wikipedia. In fact, I was quite skeptical when I first heard about the Wikipedia Global Education Program. How things have changed." So begins a blog post on the Wikimedia Foundation Blog from Jonathan Obar, a professor at Michigan State University who participated in the Public Policy Initiative in the spring and who is serving as the Education Program's Advisor in Canada. In the blog post, Jonathan talks about how he's come to realize that Wikipedia is the most innovative tool for e-pedagogy he's found. Read the blog post.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Welcome, Jami Mathewson!
A warm welcome to Jami Mathewson, the newest member of the Global Education Program team. As the U.S. Education Program Associate, Jami will facilitate the growth and improvement of our activities in the United States, to make sure that the U.S. wing of the Global Education Program remains high quality. In particular, she will work through the Wikipedia Regional Ambassadors - volunteer leaders in the Wikipedia Ambassador program - to both deepen and broaden the support that we give to professors, Campus Ambassadors, and Online Ambassadors in Wikipedia's use in the classroom. Leave a welcome message for Jami on her English Wikipedia talk page.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Canadian newspapers cover Education Program
An article originally written for Canada.com by Jordan Press was picked up by newspapers all across Canada last week. Featuring the pioneering work of Jon Beasley-Murray at the University of British Columbia, the article explains the benefits of using Wikipedia as a teaching tool in higher education and quotes professors and librarians about their experiences using the site. To see this article and other news coverage, visit the media center on the Outreach wiki.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
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This email is sent from:
Wikimedia Foundation
149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Welcome to the Global Education Update — a newsletter from the Wikimedia Foundation that is distributed the first and third Tuesday of each month. Someone from our staff has talked with you about our Global Education Program to bring Wikipedia into higher education classrooms around the world, and we wanted to keep you in the loop on all of our exciting activities. If you would prefer not to receive these messages, simply reply to the email and ask for your address to be removed. Learn more about subscribing and read the archives here:
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Convening kicks off planning of Arabic Education Program
Wikimedia Foundation staff, including Global Education Program Director Frank Schulenburg, traveled to the Middle East at the end of October to begin planning the expansion of the Wikipedia Education Program to the Arab world. Assisted by regional advisor Adel Iskandar, a professor from the U.S. Education Program pilot, the team met with professors and Wikipedians in Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan. These meetings will inform the planning of the Arabic Education Program, which will be launched in 2012. Read more about the Arabic Wikipedia Convening held in Doha, Qatar.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
U of Toronto News covers Canada Education Program
The University of Toronto News published an article last week that explains the pilot Wikipedia Education Program in Canada. Five courses at the University of Toronto are participating in the pilot program this term. Kelly Rankin, the article's author, interviews professors and students who are participating in the program this term, as well as Education Program Advisor for Canada Jonathan Obar. Read the article.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Wikipedia featured at ISSOTL conference
Wikipedia Global Education Program staff were on-hand at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last week to talk with interested professors about Wikipedia's use as a teaching tool in higher education. Wikipedia had both a booth in the exhibit hall and a presentation slot where staff Annie Lin and LiAnna Davis discussed results from the U.S. pilot program. Learn more about the conference.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Illinois State hosts workshop on U.S. Education Program
Dr. Shamira Gelbman, a professor who is participating in the U.S. Education Program this term, and Mayuko Nakamura, her Campus Ambassador, are jointly leading a session on the United States program for other faculty members at Illinois State University. Hosted by the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology on campus, the event will explain how other faculty members can use Wikipedia in their classrooms. Read more about the event.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
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This email is sent from:
Wikimedia Foundation
149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Hi Online Ambassadors and Campus Ambassadors!
I am emailing to request for urgent, emergency help from all of you who are
able and willing. Can you dedicate 30 minutes, 1 hour, 5 hours in the next
week to help?
Here's the story: As you know, the Global Education Program is also
operating in India. While some Indian students have contributed spectacular
content, a large of number of the edits coming from the participating Indian
students has been of extremely poor quality: copyright violations, unsourced
paragraphs, paragraphs with blatant POV, incomprehensible English, new
articles under a different name from an existing article, etc. The staff and
Campus Ambassador team in India have been working extremely hard to combat
these issues, and the English Wikipedia community at large has reverted or
warned students repeatedly, but the problem persists. The biggest challenge
is that the Online Ambassador team helping out India was just launched
recently and is currently very small (we have about 1,000 students in the
India program, but only about 30 Online Ambassadors dedicated to the India
program). The problems are so extreme that we've asked all students to stop
editing in the article namespace at this point and put any contributions
into sandboxes.
So we urgently need your help for the India students now. Much of the poor
content the students added in the last few months is already live on
Wikipedia, and some students might continue adding poor content onto
articles despite us telling them to edit only in sandboxes. Would you be
willing to go through a few students' contributions, or a whole class's
contributions, and delete any problematic material from the article
namespace? That means things like:
* Removing any plagiarized material (this is often easy to spot, as they've
cited the source they plagiarized from).
* Deleting articles that are duplications of existing articles.
* Moving any unsourced sentences to the talk page of the article or just
deleting them.
* Deleting or moving to the talk page any additions to Wikipedia that are so
poor English that they need serious editing help before they should be
on-wiki.
At this point, it's less mentoring and more cleaning up Wikipedia -- we need
swift action on removing problems from articles.
If you are willing and able to be part of this "Emergency India Ambassador
Team," please email me back immediately. We can use ALL the help we can get,
and we need help very urgently. Once you email me back, I will send you
exact details on which class(s) we need your help with and how exactly to
track student edits.
Thank you all very much. You all are doing amazingly as Ambassadors in the
U.S. program, and major thanks in advance to those of you who help out with
this more recent emergency.
Annie
Welcome to the Global Education Update — a newsletter from the Wikimedia Foundation that is distributed the first and third Tuesday of each month. Someone from our staff has talked with you about our Global Education Program to bring Wikipedia into higher education classrooms around the world, and we wanted to keep you in the loop on all of our exciting activities. If you would prefer not to receive these messages, simply reply to the email and ask for your address to be removed. Learn more about subscribing and read the archives here:
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Monthly Global Ed metrics meeting announced
Interested in hearing the latest data from the Global Education Program? Beginning next week, we are introducing a new Metrics and Activities Meeting that will take place each month. We'll rotate responsibility for leading the meeting each month among the various volunteers in-country, and topics will include the latest activities in each country and a report card of the latest numbers documenting the contributions of students to Wikipedia. Learn more about the meeting.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Wikipedia part of this week's ISSOTL conference
Are you attending the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin? So are we! Global Education Program Manager Annie Lin and Communications Manager LiAnna Davis will be on-hand to man a booth about Wikipedia's use as a teaching tool in higher education around the world and to give a presentation on research results from the U.S. pilot program. Learn more about ISSOTL.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Wikipedia in classroom featured in Monitor
In a recent article on technology in the international relations university curriculum, the Christian Science Monitor pointed to Wikipedia's use in higher education as a positive, emerging trend. Quoting Professor Rochelle Davis and students Patrick Friedel and Adrieh Abou Shehadeh, the article notes that using Wikipedia as a teaching tool can enrich students' learning experiences. Read the article.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Montana Senior News covers Ambassador program
Montana State University Campus Ambassador Mike Cline penned an article for Montana Senior News on his experiences in the Wikipedia Ambassador program. In the article, which begins on Page 11, Mike shares why he's proud to be a Wikipedia editor and Ambassador, and encourages readers of Montana Senior News to also become a contributor. Read Mike's article.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
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This email is sent from:
Wikimedia Foundation
149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Welcome to the Global Education Update — a newsletter from the Wikimedia Foundation that is distributed the first and third Tuesday of each month. Someone from our staff has talked with you about our Global Education Program to bring Wikipedia into higher education classrooms around the world, and we wanted to keep you in the loop on all of our exciting activities. If you would prefer not to receive these messages, simply reply to the email and ask for your address to be removed. Learn more about subscribing and read the archives here:
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
India Campus Ambassador starts video series
Abhishek Suryawanshi, a Campus Ambassador in the India Education Program, has started a video series chronicling the experiences of participants in the program. Abhishek's goal is to create short, fun interviews of Ambassadors, professors, students, and others as part of a video diary. His first video, featuring Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees member Bishakha Datta, is now available on Wikimedia Commons. Watch the video.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
WMF leads workshop at MobilityShifts
Wikimedia Foundation Global Education Program Director Frank Schulenburg is leading a workshop at next week's MobilityShifts conference in New York City. Hosted by the New School, MobilityShifts is an event geared toward conversations about learning with digital media. Frank's workshop, "Wikipedia and Academia, Friends at Last?" will cover the basics of incorporating Wikipedia into higher education learning and teaching. Learn more or register to attend.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Ambassadors present at EduCause conference
Attending the EduCause Annual Conference? Come to a Wikipedia session! Ambassadors Richard Knipel and Cristian Opazo will present information on how Wikipedia can be used as a teaching tool in higher education courses, using several specific curricular efforts as an example. Read more about Richard and Crisitan's presentation.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
University of British Columbia hosts Wikipedia event
The Centre for Learning, Teaching, and Technology at the University of British Columbia is hosting an event on Thursday, October 6, that addresses some of the work being done in the Canada Education Program. Dr. James Heilman of Wikimedia Canada and Dr. Jon Beasley-Murray, who has used Wikipedia as a teaching tool in his class, will present information on how Canadian universities like UBC can become more involved with Wikipedia. Learn more about the event.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
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This email is sent from:
Wikimedia Foundation
149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Welcome to the Global Education Update — a newsletter from the Wikimedia Foundation that is distributed the first and third Tuesday of each month. Someone from our staff has talked with you about our Global Education Program to bring Wikipedia into higher education classrooms around the world, and we wanted to keep you in the loop on all of our exciting activities. If you would prefer not to receive these messages, simply reply to the email and ask for your address to be removed. Learn more about subscribing and read the archives here:
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
First Wikipedia Ambassador Survey results released
Public Policy Initiative Research Analyst Amy Roth has released the results of the first-ever survey of Wikipedia Ambassadors, conducted at the end of the spring term. More than half of the Ambassadors, both Campus and Online, responded to the survey, and the results showed that Ambassadors agreed that the Initiative improved Wikipedia's content and the use of Wikipedia as a teaching tool. Ambassadors also shared good stories about their experiences as well. Read a blog post about the survey results.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Brazilian course improves 11 Wikipedia articles
A course in the discipline of the History of Culture recently put the finishing touches on their Wikipedia articles in the Portuguese Wikipedia. More than 50 students, assisted by User:Jaider on campus and four Online Ambassadors from the Portuguese Wikipedia, improved the quality of 11 Wikipedia articles on course-related topics. See their course page for more information.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
Wikipedia and education subject of WikiSym workshop
Regional Ambassador Matt Senate and Global Education Program Communications Manager LiAnna Davis will be leading a three-hour workshop at WikiSym on using Wikipedia as a teaching tool in higher education classrooms. Matt will draw on his experiences as an instructor and Campus Ambassador for the Public Policy Initiative to explain the benefits of integrating a Wikipedia assignment into the Syllabus. WikiSym, a conference on wiki research, is being held in Mountain View, California, from October 3-5. Learn more about WikiSym.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
U.S. Education Program Association position opens
The Global Education Program is hiring! We are looking for a U.S. Education Program Associate, who will work through our existing Ambassador leaders to further grow and improve our U.S. activities. This is a 12-month, full-time, contract position. We strongly advise for you to apply within the next couple of days if you are interested. Get more details.
https://contacts.wikimedia.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=4…
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This email is sent from:
Wikimedia Foundation
149 New Montgomery Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105
United States
Hi Wikipedia Campus Ambassadors, Online Ambassadors, and Regional
Ambassadors!
The Wikimedia Foundation officially announced a new job opening yesterday -
the "*U.S. Education Program Associate*," which will be a full-time 12-month
contract position starting as soon as possible. As the Public Policy
Initiative transitions to the Global Education Program - expanding beyond
public policy and expanding to more and more countries - we are looking for
someone to facilitate the continual growth and improvement of our activities
in the United States. For the fall 2011 semester alone, we will have around
1,600 students on board this program in the U.S. (that number is a rough
estimate), and that number will only increase in the subsequent semesters;
we also have a growing number of Campus Ambassadors and Online Ambassadors,
and we're looking to increase the number of Regional Ambassadors within the
next months. We've already built up solid volunteer leadership in the U.S.,
and we're now looking for a person who will support and mentor these
volunteer leaders, working through them to grow the U.S. wing of the Global
Education Program both quantitatively and qualitatively. The U.S. Education
Program Associate will be an integral part of the Global Education Program
staff.
I would like to warmly encourage you to apply for this position, if it can
fit into your life schedule and if it appeals to your interests. As a
Wikipedia Ambassador, you already have an edge in the application pool over
candidates who have never participated in the program themselves. Preference
will be given to applicants who have demonstrated success in a Wikipedia
Ambassador role, although other relevant volunteer or job experiences are
certainly also beneficial.
You should especially apply if you're interested in any of the following:
- Joining a collaborative, energetic, and small (but growing) team that
runs the Global Education Program at the Wikimedia Foundation
- Developing yourself professionally and personally: our explicit
intention with the U.S. Education Program Associate position is to provide
substantial professional mentorship to the person who occupies it. We want
you to grow on this job - as a team coordinator, a leader, a problem-solver
- and will help you with that!
- Introducing an innovative, real-world teaching approach to more
college/university classes
- Developing teams, mentoring volunteers, empowering others, and building
capacity
- Taking on unique and complex challenges
- Making a large impact - on the national level - in the world of higher
education, free knowledge, and online and offline communities
- Joining the non-profit organization that runs the largest free online
encyclopedia ever!
Please see here<http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/RFP/US_Education_Program_Associate>
(http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/RFP/US_Education_Program_Associate)
for more details about the position and how to apply. Email me if you have
any questions!
Thank you all.
--
Annie Lin
Global Education Program Manager
Wikimedia Foundation
alin(a)wikimedia.org
Hi Ambassadors,
I wanted to draw your attention to the stories of two of our students,
whom I've recently posted to the Wikimedia blog.
Patrick Friedel:
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2011/06/09/student-at-center-of-wikipedias-articl…
--Patrick wrote the article on the National Democratic Party of Egypt,
which was where thousands of people turned to for information on
Mubarak's party during the Arab Spring.
Kasey Baker:
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2011/06/13/online-mentor-helps-grad-student-navig…
--Kasey had a great experience with his Online Ambassador, so major
kudos to User:VisionHolder.
Feel free to continue suggesting excellent students you worked with
that we can profile on the WMF blog like this by emailing me off-list.
LiAnna
--
LiAnna Davis
Communications Associate - Public Policy Initiative
Wikimedia Foundation
http://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Public_Policy_Initiative
(415) 839-6885 x6649
ldavis(a)wikimedia.org
Hi Ambassadors,
I wanted to point you to a blog post on the WMF blog that was released
today, highlighting what we've accomplished and the direction we're heading
in the future with our global expansion:
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2011/06/08/public-policy-initiative-wraps-up-pilo…
The successes we've had are in large part due to the exceptional work you've
been doing with professors and students over the last few months -- so thank
you! Do click through to check out the chart of student contributions --
it's a pretty staggering figure (just a hint: our students added 11 reams of
paper to Wikipedia!). There are also a couple of photos of Ambassadors along
with the post. :)
LiAnna
--
LiAnna Davis
Communications Associate - Public Policy Initiative
Wikimedia Foundation
http://outreach.wikimedia.org/wiki/Public_Policy_Initiative
(415) 839-6885 x6649
ldavis(a)wikimedia.org