From the very beginning, we’ve had our champions — students, faculty, and institutions alike — who have recognized what a Wikipedia writing assignment can achieve for student learning and for the world. Thanks to word-of-mouth, as well as the great work these individuals have accomplished using our resources (work that speaks for itself), more and more faculty are getting involved in this open educational practice. Not only that, but institutions are now awarding their faculty for incorporating Wikipedia into their pedagogy.
- Amy Carleton won MIT’s Teaching With Digital Technology Award this year for having students practice their science writing through Wikipedia.
- Kathleen Sheppard won a teaching award this year for facilitating science communication learning through a Wikipedia writing assignment. She was then named her institution’s Woman of the Year just a few months later.
- Jennifer Glass was recognized by her Center for Teaching and Learning after a student nominated her for an appreciation award following a Wikipedia assignment around earth science.
- Melony Shemberger’s instructional design work around Wikipedia in her journalism classroom was selected as a winning entry in a teaching contest at the Association for the Education of Journalism and Mass Communication annual conference held in early August this year.
- And the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recognized an international group of professors for using the Wikipedia assignment as a way to educate the public about important health topics.
It’s been a busy year for Wikipedia in pedagogy. And we couldn’t be more thrilled to hear about your successes. If you’ve been recognized for incorporating Wikipedia into your undergraduate or graduate curriculum, please let us know by mailing Wikipedia Student Program Manager Helaine Blumenthal at helaine@wikiedu.org.
If you want to incorporate a Wikipedia writing assignment into an upcoming course, visit teach.wikiedu.org for information about our free resources and systems of support.
