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Using Wikipedia to enhance student learning: A case study in economics

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Abstract

Currently, there is widespread interest in how Web 2.0 tools can be used to improve students’ learning experiences. Previous studies have focused either on the advantages of wikis or on concerns over the use of Wikipedia. In this study, we propose to use Wikipedia as a classroom wiki. In doing so, we discuss how students can improve their standard written assignments using Wikipedia instead of a module wiki. Compared to traditional essay assignments, students’ submission of articles to Wikipedia can address many of the problems faced by instructors of traditional assignments, such as students’ poor writing skills, lack of primary source research, and poorly balanced discussions. Our study was based on our experience in teaching an upper-level economics module at the National University of Singapore over two semesters: 121 students who were enrolled in semester 1 submitted a traditional writing assignment, while 124 students enrolled in semester 2 contributed two short entries to Wikipedia. The results showed a large increase in the number of students checking their assignment feedback. Further, students’ writing quality improved noticeably in the Wikipedia assignment, and they were able to put forth more balanced discussions of relevant issues and include a greater number of primary sources. Despite the challenges faced when using Wiki markup language, the students enjoyed the overall experience.

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Notes

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Good_article_criteria (last accessed: September 5, 2013).

  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YiNongDai (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of Foxgui.

  3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Social_Research (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of Deanlist.

  4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shroff_Foundation_Trust:_Livelihood_Security_and_Drudgery_Reduction (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of EC3371 NGO19.

  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistance_of_Education_in_Cambodia (last accessed: February 5, 2014). See the contributions of NGO43.

  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_China (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of Chidev.

  7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labour_in_India (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of Brycelam.

  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Indonesia (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of NGO29.

  9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Indonesia (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of NUS-NGO10.

  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ActionAid_Ethiopia (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of Development economics 1.

  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_China (last accessed: February 5, 2014). See the contributions of Developmentecons and Developmenteconomics.

  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_labour_in_India (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of Brycelam and Ec3371grp.

  13. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WaterAid (last accessed: February 7, 2014). See the contributions of NGO7, U0900568, and Dev ngo33.

  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Laos_%28post-1990%29 (last accessed: February 5, 2014). See the contributions of 3371.NGO26.

  15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Nigeria (last accessed: February 5, 2014). See the contributions of Group 14.

  16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_scarcity_in_Africa (last accessed: February 5, 2014). See the contributions of U091800L.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to participants at the International Technology, Education and Development Conference 2011, the 2011 International Conference on Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, and the 2013 Developments in Economics Education conference for their comments and advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Business School Suzhou, Xi’an JiaoTong-Liverpool University, 111 Ren’ai Rd, Dushu Lake Higher Education Town, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu, 215123, China

    Tiago Freire

  2. Center for Economic Research, Shandong University, 27 Shanda Nanlu, Jinan, 250100, China

    Jingping Li

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  1. Tiago Freire
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Correspondence to Tiago Freire.

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Freire, T., Li, J. Using Wikipedia to enhance student learning: A case study in economics. Educ Inf Technol 21, 1169–1181 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9374-0

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