From Deseret News archives:
New front in attack on Wikipedia
College department bans its use as source in papers
He figured out the problem soon enough. The obscure, though incorrect, information was from Wikipedia, the collaborative online encyclopedia, and the students had picked it up cramming for his exam.
Waters and other professors in the history department had begun noticing about a year ago that students were citing Wikipedia as a source in their papers. When confronted, many would say that their high school teachers had allowed the practice.
But the errors on the Japanese history test last semester were the last straw. At Waters' urging, the Middlebury history department notified its students this month that Wikipedia could not be cited in papers or exams, and that students could not "point to Wikipedia or any similar source that may appear in the future to escape the consequences of errors."
Although Middlebury's history department has banned Wikipedia in citations, it has not banned its use. Don Wyatt, the chairman of the department, said a total ban on Wikipedia would have been impractical, not to mention close-minded, because Wikipedia is simply too handy to expect students never to consult it.
At Middlebury, a discussion about the new policy is scheduled on campus on Monday, with speakers poised to defend and criticize using the site in research.
Jimmy Wales, the co-founder of Wikipedia and chairman emeritus of its foundation, said of the Middlebury policy, "I don't consider it as a negative thing at all."
He continued: "Basically, they are recommending exactly what we suggested students shouldn't be citing encyclopedias. I would hope they wouldn't be citing Encyclopaedia Britannica, either.
"If they had put out a statement not to read Wikipedia at all, I would be laughing. They might as well say don't listen to rock 'n' roll either."
Comments
- Busiest postal day will be Dec. 14 12:03 p.m.
- Westminster pres. joins lib ed group 12:01 p.m.
- Dr.: Mitchell deluded, incompetent 12:00 p.m.
- Arts survey finds drops in attendance 11:03 a.m.
- Palestinian files suit over 'Bruno' 11:01 a.m.
- Alexa Joel 'devastating heartbreak' 10:56 a.m.
- Actress got close to the president 10:55 a.m.
- Scuffle doesn't stop 'Wicked' in Ohio 10:54 a.m.
- Swine flu toll includes a few pets 10:52 a.m.
- Mistake vs. repeat affairs probed 10:49 a.m.
- Crash landing next to I-15
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Palin signs books, chats with fans
- Psychologist: Mitchell schizophrenic
- Panel passes BCS playoff bill
- Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- I-15 expansion barreling south
- Max Hall wants to look ahead
- Hot Rod behind mic for Lakers
- Letters: Global warming a lie
242 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
188 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
148 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
140 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
130 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
122 - Revive full food tax?
102 - Panel passes BCS playoff bill
99
Love him or hate him, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch knows how to get attention.
Well, I did it. I gave in to the seductions of the ridiculously sexy...
The 1964 Civil Rights Act is more complexed than many admit. Both the...
From what I hear the leftist on this blog say about Sarah Palin, I could...
Hi, Bill, while I see your point I completely disagree. If this student...
He said it was a mutation in the "haemagglutinin" gene... May want to check...
Tiger Woods has chosen two professions that place him squarely in the public...
I just don't understand people who flock to so-called celebrities and...
Presidnet Obama seems to take no personal responsibitlity for ANYTHING going...
What an inspiring story I loved it and yes I'm crying for all of us in the...
"If you carry a swimsuit, you have to haul that wet fabric back down the hill...
If these are Federal dollars paying for the road then I don't believe they...



You can be the first to comment on this story.