On the website "pbworks.com" users are allowed to create pages that are similar to wikis, meaning that anyone can change, edit and add comments on that page. It is mainly a workspace for people to share their ideas or so. To make a page on this website, like any other site we created a user name and a page name. Then we edit our information such as e-mail address and date of birth etc. After that they said that they sent us an confirmation e-mail. We had to click on a link to activate our wiki.
What material on your wiki has been changed?
On our wiki, Badmaa and I posted our scripts and added some jokes and other stuff. After editing and commenting on other peoples' pages, we went to our own wiki and there was a lot changed and some comments added. People changed our scripts and added some more things like jokes and other random stuff.
How do you feel?
Even though they didnt change any 'personal' stuff (there wasnt any), it felt kind of weird to know that someone changed our scripts. I got this weird tingling feeling inside. I believe it can be really serious if someone actually did change personal stuff.
How can a wiki owner delete changes or go back to an older version?
In my opinion, the creators have a backup copy of the text, article etc on their computers. And if anyone changes the wiki, the creator simply copy and pastes the edited part. Or the editors can use the online tools that allows you to go back to the previous version.
How can wikis be used?
Wikis could be used for a number of reasons. Since it can be edited by anyone, it is a great workspace for people to share their work. In class we came up with a few different ideas.
-Debate Group
-Classroom Activities
-Comercials or ADs
-Personal Blogging
-Resource for TV Websites
-Survey
-Support Group
-Collaboration on a Written Work
We started a new unit today and it is all about wikis. We all heard about 'wikipedia' the online encyclopedia. That is one example if a wiki. A wiki is basically a web page on a website about a particular subject and with information on it. It is open to the public and anyone can change or edit the information/text. It doesnt matter who creates them because anyone create them, people either create them for themselves or people people working for some companies create them. The main purpose of creating them is to offer information about the subject to the public. Because it can be edited by anyone, it is very easy for someone to acquire false information. There are a number of reasons why people change them; some change it for fun, some are just plain mean and some actually try to help add and validate information. There are people called 'page monitors'. They basically monitor a certain page by checking it every once a while and editing it back if someone has changed it. There is a tool called 'wikiscanner' that can find the information that has edited recently. You put in the URL of the wikipedia page and then the information that has been changed are highlighted. This is one way to find errors on wikipedia. Another way is to just refresh the page often and read throught it again and again.
Where does Wikipedia get its information?
- Since Wikipedia itself is a website collaborated by many in order to create a resourceful place. They take information from other websites that are privately owned or from books and encyclopedias. In order to validate their information they have a work cited on every single page of information.
Who is in charge of deciding what goes into an article and what gets removed from an article?
- There is a management team on Wikipedia and they are made of administrations. The founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, is also an administrator on the web page; however, he still maintains equal rights to any other of the administration staff.
If there is some debate about whether a particular bit of information should or should not be included in an article what the process for deciding is?
- Unresolved disputes between editors, whether based upon behavior, editorial approach, or validity of content, can be addressed through the talk page of an article, through requesting comments from other editors or through Wikipedia's comprehensive dispute resolution - process.
How reliable do you think Wikipedia actually is?
- The creators of Wikipedia are the first to admit that not every entry is accurate and that it might not be the best source of material for research papers. Here are some points to consider:
·Look for a slant. Some articles are fair and balanced, but others look more like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. If an article has only one source, beware.
· Consider the source. Even if an article cites external sources, check out those sources to see whether they are being cited fairly and accurately — and do, in fact, reinforce the article's points. · Look who's talking. If you research the contributors themselves and find that they are experts in their fields, you can be more confident in the entry.
· Start here, but keep going. Wikipedia should be a starting point for research but not your primary source for research material.
However, in our opinion, the rules are quite similar to what is stated above yet we are advised to steer away from Wikipedia at most times due to the fact that anyone could go and change the information.
How would you know whether a particular article really is accurate?
- There are two main ways that this could be resolved. The first, at the bottom of every single Wikipedia entry there is a work cited section, where all the sources will be found. Depending upon how many sources there and the quality of the sources; should be a quite reasonable way to judge. Secondly, in order to verify the information give, verify by searching it through other websites and resources and check if there are the same answers.
How would you go about discovering whether an article contains inaccurate information?
- Relating to the previous question, the answer is that in order to find a fault in Wikipedia, check the validity of the sources and compare and contrast to other information to the entry.
How to find an inaccuracy on Wikipedia:
Step 1: Choose an article
Step 2: Research about the chosen article from various sources
Step 3: Compare and contrast the information found with information on Wikipedia page
Step 4: If anything does not seem to match and seem wrong, validate sources
Step 5: Edit the Wikipedia page with new information
Step 6: Make sure to cite all the new sources
Using our method, we have found an inaccuracy on a Wikipedia page. The page was titled ‘War in Darfur’. The bolded part is the inaccuracy we have found. Although it was not a big mistake it is still a mistake, even little.
”In March 2005, the UN's Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland estimated that 10,000 were dying each month excluding deaths due to ethnic violence.[73] An estimated 2 million people had at that time been displaced from their homes, mostly seeking refuge in camps in Darfur's major towns. Two hundred thousand had fled to neighboring Chad. Reports of violent deaths compiled by the UN indicate between 6,000 and 7,000 fatalities from 2004 to 2007. [74]”
The correction for the bolded part of the writing is actually 2.7 million people replaced from their homes to be exact.
The reason why this source is valid is due to the fact that it is TV news and it is the official website. They deliver all different types of news but focus on World News on most occasions as it is quite important.
Bibliography
"Is Wikipedia reliable?." dummies. Wiley Publishing, Inc., Web. 22 Feb 2010.
http://as.dummies.com/how-to/content/is-wikipedia-reliable.html.
"Wikipedia:About." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Web. 23 Feb 2010.
"Wikipedia." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., Web. 23 Feb 2010.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia>/a>.
"5 UN peacekeepers killed in Darfur attacks." GMAnews. 12/06/2009 . GMA Networs, Inc., Web. 23 Feb 2010. http://www.gmanews.tv/story/178659/5-un-peacekeepers-killed-in-darfur-attacks.
