Thursday, August 14, 2008

If a wookie could wiki

[Please note: I've updated this post to better reflect Badke's position which, he pointed out, I mangled. Original in comments. I have left in my irritating sarcasm. ]


You'd think public librarians would love wiki. Yet does any public library in noo-zoo make use of a wiki? Why not? Not yet? Hmm..

In some the response to, say, Wikipedia is still ambivalent, almost disapproving. At best, Wikipedia is considered a "single" source. (William Badke wrote that, despite its strengths: "we need to help our students see that Wikipedia is also an environment for shallow thinking, debates over interpretation, and the settling of scores." Yeah, cos like, none of that happens in academia.)

The mistake, I think, is to expect Wikipedia to be perfect. As if an error in any particular article damned the whole project. Yet despite what Nick Carr says about Google making us stupid, (or presumably any part of the Interweb), I'd put money, real money, on Wikipedia. Because on well-above-average - for all its errors, biases, and frauds - Wikipedia is better informed than an individual. That is a hard metaphysical thing to take.


I recommend Chris Anderson. He gives a good, clear sense of the way Wikipedia works, and it's importance: "the first source of information, not the last." He also links to Nick Carr's critique for those who still want a straw to clutch.

11 comments:

William Badke said...

Sometimes a short quote out of context is complete misrepresentation. In my article about Wikipedia, I make the point that we should not be dismissing it but should be helping to make it better. The complete quote is this:
"Truth to tell, much of Wikipedia is simply amazing in its
detail, currency, and accuracy. Denying this is tantamount
to taking ourselves out of the new digital reality.
But we need to help our students see that Wikipedia is
also an environment for shallow thinking, debates over
interpretation, and the settling of scores. Wikipedia
itself advises that its users consult otber sources to verify
the information they are finding. If a key element in
information literacy is the ability to evaluate information,
what better place to start than with Wikipedia? We
can help students to distinguish the trite from the brilliant
and encourage them to check their Wikipedia
information against other sources."
William Badke

SoAndSo said...

Shrug. Carrot, stick. One in each hand i guess, flailing away at the donkey. But I should've prefaced that quote by saying something like in an otherwise insightful and positive analysis Badke..

However I am frustrated by people trashing Wikipedia with straw things that have always applied to using information resources, and thus making it seem unusual, in need of a care we would not otherwise have taken.

What is exceptional about Wikipedia is not how the environment might be twisted to look like every previous generation's carry-on, but how this is now visible, and the implications of that.

SoAndSo said...

After rereading my post, oh ten billion times, I've been thinking.. and thinking.. what was i thinking!?!@! Don't think I should have excised that "also."

Here is the original presentation:

(Or, more bizzare, William Badke wrote: "we need to help our students see that Wikipedia is.. an environment for shallow thinking, debates over interpretation, and the settling of scores." Yeah, cos like, none of that happens in academia.)

However, for what it's worth i still think there's too much overstating WP's weaknesses, as per my previous comment.

The love of life said...

As a seasoned wiki wonderer could you please tell me what I do when I am sent an email through my gmail a/c from you who wants me to join NSL Learning 2.0 Wiki Sandbox. I already have my name on the wiki sandbox. I dont know what to do to join you and sign up(thats in reply to the email that was sent to my gmail a/c). When I entered my details it did not accept me in!! Which details should I enter? I must be a very lost wonderer --lost in the desert of technology I reckon!!-HELP me soandso please.

SoAndSo said...

hi Poppy - the email was just me fiddling with the invite function in wetpaint, which you didnt need as you were already there:)

Invites are a common feature of social networking sites; you can always ignore them.

But if you want to be a member.. did you try the "Join this wiki" button?

If your username has already been taken you will need to try another - which is why i have an extra 'So'

S. Toogod Tobetrue said...

Doesn't this just demonstrate the wonder of the blogosphere?

Hmm which site/widget allows one to track who has linked to one's blog again?

I'm not sure how Badke's discussion (as quoted by him in your text) outlines any steps that might "make wikipedia better" so much as outline the ever-present need to foster critical thinking.

Good luck with that!

"Think critically!"
"Why should I?"

SoAndSo said...

Yes, i was a bit bemused at how quickly badke picked up my quote. that is some terrifying edifying widgetml.

In hindsight I shouldve just expressed the sentiment in my own words, which I often seem to hear without any of the context of badke's very positive approach.

Like, well, i am suprised by how much hesitation over WP there is at NSL, still.

S. Toogod Tobetrue said...

Hmmm yes I was speculating to myself the other day on the benefits of using a wiki (I'm not entirely sold on Wordpress despite experience with it through recent developments on anyquestions) to speed up content development for the site... ever the optimist, I wait to see what will be in place when the new "virtual team" is launched.

SoAndSo said...

an nsl wiki? och aye, but dinna ken.. such a bonnie wee wiki, e'en were it would it be a true wiki?

The Graf Boys - Clyde and Steve said...

Your carrot-stick-willie experience reminds me of reading an article about an author who tracks every blog that mentions her name (this memory might be useful if only i could remember HOW she did it). Anyway, someone had raved glowingly about this author's latest book in their blog, so the author added a nice comment. Unfortunately the blogger didn't believe it was really the author, and called her every name under the sun for masquerading as her literary hero. Duuuuhhhhhh! Just remember - Big Willie Brother is watching you.

SoAndSo said...

Great story. How fantastically mortifying!

Ah, but here's the thing: how can you blog and not expect to be watched? That's not paranoia; that's the point .