Wikipedia in higher education: Changes in perceived value through content contribution

Joan Soler-Adillon, Dragana Pavlovic, Pere Freixa

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Abstract

Wikipedia is a resource widely used by university students, but is not necessarily well valued in terms of reliability, nor is it seen as an environment in which to make content contributions. This article presents a teaching and research project that consists in proposing that students edit or create articles for Wikipedia, and in checking if the experience modifies their assessment of it. The experience was carried out at the Pompeu Fabra University (Spain) and the University of Niš (Serbia) with a total of 240 students. They edited articles and answered two questionnaires, one before and one after the experience. The responses were compared by a series of T tests for paired samples, from which we could verify that the data showed a significant change in their perception of the reliability and usefulness of Wikipedia and the probability of finding false information in it. He also changed his appreciation of the task of editing articles, which was assessed as interesting and represented a challenge. On the other hand, his assessment of the social prestige of Wikipedia, both in the university context and in the general context, did not vary significantly. Additionally, the open questions and the informal feedback allowed to collect valuable information regarding the evaluation of the whole of the experience which was rated as interesting and represented a challenge. On the other hand, his assessment of the social prestige of Wikipedia, both in the university context and in the general context, did not vary significantly. Additionally, the open questions and the informal feedback allowed to collect valuable information regarding the evaluation of the whole of the experience which was rated as interesting and represented a challenge. On the other hand, his assessment of the social prestige of Wikipedia, both in the university context and in the general context, did not vary significantly. Additionally, the open questions and the informal feedback allowed to collect valuable information regarding the evaluation of the whole of the experience
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)39-48
Number of pages10
JournalComunicar
VolumeXXVI
Issue number54
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018

Keywords

  • Collaborative learning
  • Internet
  • Information
  • Competence
  • University
  • Students
  • Literacy
  • Digital culture

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