{"id":106,"date":"2012-07-26T14:03:38","date_gmt":"2012-07-26T14:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/sites\/gsm_sum12\/?p=106"},"modified":"2014-06-02T14:59:05","modified_gmt":"2014-06-02T18:59:05","slug":"research-notes-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ww2.georgiasouthern.edu\/news\/magazine\/2012\/07\/26\/research-notes-3\/","title":{"rendered":"The Impact of Wikipedia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Researchers Find Online Encyclopedia Effective Learning Tool<\/h3>\n

While Wikipedia is often considered unreliable because of its open format, two College of \"calhoun\"<\/a>Education professors have found that it makes an effective learning device in the college classroom. \u201cDespite what many people perceive as Wikipedia\u2019s shortcomings, using Wikipedia as a research assignment actually makes students think more critically and enhances their ability to analyze primary and secondary sources,\u201d says Jason LaFrance, assistant professor of educational leadership.<\/p>\n

LaFrance has teamed up with fellow faculty member Dan Calhoun to publish the study \u201cStudents Perceptions of Wikipedia as a Learning Tool for Educational Leaders\u201d in the recent issue of the International Journal of Educational Leadership Preparation (IJELP). The study was also endorsed by the National Council of Professors of Educational Administration (NCPEA).<\/p>\n

While LaFrance says there are legitimate concerns about the free online encyclopedia\u2019s reliability and accuracy, studies have shown that the entries are as accurate and credible as some online sources respected by academics. \u201cWhether we like it or not, Wikipedia is being used by students,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n

As an educator, LaFrance looked at how Wikipedia could be used to improve the learning experience. Doctoral students in Educational Leadership were asked to create or update Wikipedia entries. \u201cStudents felt Wikipedia was as effective or more effective than traditional research assignments for enhancing writing, research and critical thinking skills,\u201d LaFrance says. \u201cThey saw the kind of reach Wikipedia has. It\u2019s as if your writing is peer-reviewed by hundreds of thousands of people in real-time.\u201d And that, LaFrance says, can have a powerful impact on students\u2019 motivation and interest in research and writing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Researchers Find Online Encyclopedia Effective Learning Tool<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3891,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[38],"class_list":["post-106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-research","tag-summer-2012"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t