Community, Consistency, and the Wikipedia Corpus

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Active Learning / Critical Thinking / Editing / Knowledge Organization / Peer Review / Writing

An analysis of Wikipedia as an integrated knowledge organization system created for LIBR 509 with Dr. Julia Bullard in the MLIS core.

This analysis of Wikipedia as an integrated system of knowledge organization was written in Google Docs in about two to three hours.

Inspired by the issues I encountered with the Thesaurus - Create assignment, I wanted to explore Wikipedia to discuss the ways in which the categories in the MediaWiki platform function as both a classification system and controlled vocabulary.

Receiving Feedback

"Besides these, I would like to hear more of your thoughts on whether there are any improvements that could be made." Peer Reviewer #1
"Can I ask what are the implications of the lack of professional oversight on the accuracy and reliability of Wikipedia's information?" Peer Reviewer #2
"...it would be interesting to see if there are any scholarly analyses of wikipedia that could complement your analysis that you could cite and reference" Peer Reviewer #3
Overall, the feedback I received related to formulating more of a critique of Wikipedia as a system and incorporating scholarship. I think it would be an interesting perspective to use Wikipedia edit-a-thons and/or the use of Wikipedia article editing in classrooms as a way to address these topis in a revision.

Giving Feedback

In this week I discovered that we could annotate documents for peer review, not just leave comments, and made use of this feature in addition to the comments. I left green highlights for things I thought were strong about the piece and pink/magenta highlights for corrections or comments on how the analyses could be revised. One aspect I tried to focus on in my peer reviews was whether my classmates discussed the aspects of the system working together.

iSchool Graduate Competencies

Below is a self-identified list of competencies that this activity engages as it aligns with the iSchool MLIS Graduate Competencies:

3. Organize and manage information to facilitate access, reflection, and use in a range of contexts

4. Employ information systems and current technologies to address real-world situations, informed by social and cultural perspectives

5. Reflect in an informed and critical manner on information infrastructures and practices, acknowledging the role of power and privilege, the ongoing influence of colonization, and the value of diverse worldviews

7. Demonstrate effective collaboration, decision-making and leadership in team settings

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Learning Significance

  1. I found being able to explore giving peer reviews with more detailed feedback very helpful in formulating my more overarching comments to my classmates, and wish that I could have discovered this feature of Canvas earlier. I am also reminded of the in-person think-aloud protocol peer reviewing from my first year of undergrad. I think that format of peer review also allows more holistic feedback that covers the pros and cons of the work. It makes me consider peer review more as a conversation with the writer rather than a one-off comment.