Despite questions about academic rigor, undergraduates use Wikipedia for opportunistic learning: self-regulated study to learn, relearn, or be introduced to concepts. STEM topics are potentially immune from some of Wikipedia's criticism, as many are based on well-established facts. This article evaluates 28 articles from seven STEM disciplines on…

Pharmacy students tend to use Wikipedia as a quick resource of knowledge. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of content and readability level of Wikipedia articles on chemotherapeutics, using quality and readability tools. Using the British National Formulary (BNF-2018) and ClinicalTrials.gov, we identified 188 chemotherapeutic drugs. We…

All content to Wikipedia is added and edited in a crowdsourced model, wherein nearly anyone can click the "edit" button and change content on Wikipedia. An active community of dedicated volunteers is what keeps Wikipedia as reliable as it is today--good, but not complete. More diverse contributors are needed to add more content to…

Scientific literacy plays a crucial role for elementary teachers in developing the strategies of science learning and implementing them in the classroom. Nevertheless, the scientific literacy of college students in elementary education has not been optimal. Science encyclopedia-assisted project-based learning (PjBL) integrated into the science,…

The authors, a chemistry professor and a librarian, used a qualitative survey to assess student perceptions of a Wikipedia editing assignment that they included in a large upper-level biochemistry course. The assignment was initially intended as a public-facing alternative to a short research paper, emphasizing information literacy and scientific…

Wikipedia is not only a source of knowledge and a medium for communicating research but also opens new avenues for teaching in academia. In this article, the authors provide theoretical considerations and practical guidance for setting up a postgraduate economics course where students disseminate research on income inequality in Europe to a…

Michael E. Raynor limits his commentary to Flavin's discussion of Wikipedia. Flavin argues that Wikipedia is a disruptive innovation, and has disrupted the hard-copy encyclopedia. Flavin sees Wikipedia in optimistic terms, as democratising education and 'reframing the means by which knowledge is produced, distributed and consumed.' He implies that…

Besides a lack of focus on the context in which the innovation thrives or dies, the author takes issue with some of Dr. Flavin's choice of examples. Flavin argues that Wikipedia has disrupted higher education. The author is a supporter of Wikipedia (both through donation and article edits) and uses it regularly, but does not believe it has had…

Wikipedia has been viewed as a dubious resource within higher education, and students are often encouraged to avoid its use due to the questionable rigour of its entries. In this study the tables were turned when Wikipedia became the central element in an assessment task. The task experimented with a new approach to summative assessment within a…

This article argues for Art + Feminism Wikipedia Edit-a-thons as feminist interventions and pedagogical events that facilitate participants' Wikipedia literacy and acquisition of learning outcomes, especially critical thinking, digital literacy, and technical skills. Drawing on data collected at a Spring 2018 Edit-a-thon at Indiana University of…

This paper uses disruptive innovation theory as a lens through which to analyse technology enhanced learning in higher education. The paper also explores how higher education might be disrupted. Specific technologies are examined, including the Virtual Learning Environment and Wikipedia. Specific practices are analysed, including Bring Your Own…

The representation of scientific knowledge and information on Wikipedia is controversial. While some entries present established scientific fact, other entries are devoid of information or present information of questionable rigour. Taking this and the problems associated with essay topics as assessment tasks into consideration, an assessment task…

Do academics, both directly and indirectly involved with healthcare, have a moral mandate to ensure that Wikipedia has the most accurate, up-to-date and understandable information? From the perspective of a physician who is also a long-time Wikipedia editor, the ethical, moral, and power dynamics of the medical community's interaction with…

COVID-19 and the public health policies emerging in response have laid bare a multiplicity of issues related to educational access and knowledge equity on a global scale. Among these, the quick shift to online and hybrid education models led teachers to adapt a plethora of digital platforms to deliver content and sponsor interactions). Such…

This paper outlines a creative Wikipedia-based project developed by the University of Kansas (KU) Libraries and the KU Biology Department. Inspired by the tenets of open pedagogy, the purpose of this project is to use Wikipedia as a way for students to learn about the scholarly peer review process while also producing material that can be shared…