W15.2.2 June 14 (Fri)—CHENG SHIYI

What did I learn while editing Wikipedia? 

 The whole semester was centred around Wikipedia, a mostly practical course that was a special experience in my academic career. I learnt how to start editing in Wikipedia, selecting an article that is not available in the English or Chinese Wikipedia for translation and posting it to the appropriate sandbox. I also learnt a lot of theory in the process of learning practical skills, such as watching the professor's weekly videos on Wikipedia and articles on sister sites such as Wikipedia, etc.

 And, I learnt how to collect and organise information effectively. Not only do I need to obtain information from various authoritative sources, such as books, journals, official websites, etc., but I also need to learn to identify the authenticity and reliability of the information. Wikipedia's editors put a very, very strong emphasis on citing reliable sources and avoiding original research, which made it necessary for me to be more careful during the information gathering process to ensure that every source of information is credible. So this strict requirement for Wikipedia has enhanced my ability to analyse and judge information.

 Also the process of translating articles and editing Wikipedia has taught me how to publish quality content on Wikipedia. Wikipedia has strict quality requirements for each article and all content must conform to Wikipedia's rules and guidelines. Through this course this semester, I have also learned how to write articles that meet Wikipedia's standards, as well as how to write neutral and objective content, how to properly cite sources, and much more.

 And through this course, translating Wikipedia articles has also helped me to enhance my ability of cross-cultural communication and co-operation. In the process of translation, I not only need to convert words from one language to another, but also need to consider the expressions and habits in the cultural background of different countries. So it requires me not only to have good language skills, but also to have a certain cultural sensitivity, to be able to understand and respect the differences between different cultures.

 So I also believe that the skills I have learnt will be useful not only when editing Wikipedia, but also in the future in academic writing, web publishing and so on.

How is this assignment different from more traditional student assignments?

 Editing Wikipedia is a weekly task for me, and it is also very different from traditional student work. In traditional student assignments, I need to complete the assignment based on the topics assigned by the professor, which limits the flexibility of the assignment. However, editing Wikipedia is an open-ended task, and I know that Wikipedia is a big encyclopaedia. In this encyclopaedia, I can freely choose the areas I am interested in to edit and explore, which not only expands my knowledge, but also stimulates my interest and passion in learning.

 Wikipedia would not be what it is today without the efforts of editors from all over the world, so Wikipedia's editing assignments also show me the idea of sharing and open learning. While student assignments are traditionally done alone, if you know a little bit about Wikipedia's philosophy, you'll know that Wikipedia encourages and welcomes new people to come to Wikipedia and collaborate with editors from all over the world. For example, working together to improve an article, sharing each other's knowledge and insights. By communicating and discussing with other editors about my edits and comments on articles. So by editing Wikipedia, I am not only spreading knowledge, but also learning from around the world. This experience of learning together has given me a sense of the power and fun of teamwork, which is quite different from the traditional experience of completing a limited task in a group.

 And traditional student assignments are often confined within the classroom, with a single task topic and a fixed format. Wikipedia editing assignments, on the other hand, are different in that they require a certain degree of practical ability and creativity. Not only do I have to write the article, but I also have to edit, review and translate it, etc. All these processes are full of certain challenges and variables. At the same time, seeing my edited articles being posted on Wikipedia for global users to read is a sense of achievement that traditional assignments cannot give.

Is it more fun?

 Compared with traditional student work, editing Wikipedia is really more fun, challenging and interesting. Wikipedia is global and there are people from all over the world sharing their own culture and other contents, which makes my editing work not only academic but also international. So posting my translated articles for global users to read gives me a greater sense of achievement and fun than traditional student work. And in the process of editing Wikipedia, I also feel the power of knowledge sharing. Knowledge and wisdom from all over the world come together through the platform of Wikipedia, which makes Wikipedia more interesting to me.

 There is also the fact that editing Wikipedia has also allowed me to experience an open and shared way of learning, a way that has not only stimulated my creativity and initiative, but also made me more passionate about learning and exploring knowledge. This is also something that I find very fun and interesting. Overall, editing Wikipedia is an interesting and meaningful learning experience, which not only broadens my horizons and enhances my multiple abilities, but also makes me feel the power and fun of knowledge sharing.