The method that we came up was:
1. Choose a topic/subject that we’re familiar with
2. Check if there is a wiki page on it
3. Check if the information on the wiki page corresponds with the information we know
4. Find a reliable source to back up our theory (News sources, books, magazines, web etc.)
5. Once we’ve found an error, print it out and ask Mrs. Wilson if we can change it.
Our design specifications were:
•The information should be cited properly, using MLA format
•The information should be accurate enough that no additional changes are required
•The information should be from valid source, so that it is reliable enough
The topic that we changed on Wikipedia was about Thailand. We all agreed that Thailand is a great place to spend holidays, but I do not think that we did not have further information about Thailand except how famous the country is for a vacation. Therefore, I think that even though the topic was very interesting and intriguing, it was not 100% familiar for us in various ways.
Despite that the topic was not very familiar, we were able to find valid source on the surface area of Thailand, because there were some governmental websites that provide the most accurate information about countries, such as CIA factbook. We could not use any other sources but websites because 1) we could not fine any articles from paper source, and 2) we did not have much time to look thoroughly to other sources. If we had more time to work on the project, we could have probably added more changes since we could have investigated deeply about the subject.
After we added a change to the Wiki Thailand page, we put a proper citation using MLA format. Then we went to the page again, and found out that our change was not changed again, which means the information that we added was accurate! :) Even though it was a minor change, we actually helped Wikipedia to have more accurate information.2) Evaluate each stage of the project (Cr. A, B, D)
Criterion A - Investigation
Before we started working on research, we firstly made our wiki page and had an experiment how it felt when someone else changed our information. I often made some funny comments on others' wiki pages, and in fact, it was very funny. However, I noticed that I definitely should not put any silly comments or changes on the real wiki pages because I will give disadvantages to other people who might need to use the information. When others added changes on our wiki page, we thanked for those who made some correction on grammar, etc. But others who put weird information just made us feel ridiculous. I think this activity was a very good to learn how we should use wikipedia in terms of editing information in a proper manner.
When the activity was done, the class members are divided into different groups, and I was working together with Sonya and Elise. We then worked on research of Wikipedia. There were two categories of question types; the first one was a individual work, and the second part was a group work. The individual work was mostly based on the questions that were more personal, and asking for one's thoughts and reasons.
There were six questions for the group work process, and each of us took two and answered them. After we answered the questions, we put the information on each one's blog and told other members to copy the information to combine together. While I was working as a part of the group, I felt that I really should be responsible about the topic that I chose, and I should be good at time management. I often procrastinated while we were working on the investigation and I was keep asking a pardon for being procrastinated. I finished investigation on time, but I needed to make other group workers wait for me to put my information on the blog. Next time, I should push myself to work hard during class times so that I would not make other people to feel uncomfortable with working together with me.
Criterion B - Design
For criterion B, we searched for a wiki page that we could possibly make changes, and find sources to prove that the change that we are going to make is valid. Then we created our design specifications.
When we were looking for information that we could add a change, Elise came up with the idea of checking the information on Thailand. We all agreed, and found out that there was a wiki page about Thailand, and there was a minor error on the surface area of Thailand. We found out valid information from CIA factbook and Mundi, a website that provides all the countries' profiles. Then we decided to change this information, then came up with three design specifications.
I think I was able to finish criterion B very quick because my group members provided so much information to me. They were really good at researching, and finding out information that they are needed. If the project was an individual work, I would probably had difficult times to what to choose for my topic. Furthermore, I learned the benefit of group work, which is we can come up with different ideas and solve a problem in a shorter time.
Criterion D - Create
As soon as we started working on criterion D, we went to Wikipedia Thailand web page, and logged on to the website. We added changes to the total area of Thailand, and then checked later again if there was another change made. The whole process of changing information went very fast (in fact it took only 10 minutes to finish Criterion D!). However, it was sort of complicated to change the information because the page was not like an ordinary web editing page, but full of HTML and other information. So we needed to find out where the information of the area is located, and the work cited page of it. After tried for more than 3 times to change the information, we finally saved the wiki page, and we were done with the process.
Overall I learned that changing information on a professional, or popular wiki page is really easy, therefore, people should be award of the validity of the information. Even if the website is a well-known one, there might be some flaws found in it. The entire process of this project went very quickly, but it was very interesting. What is going to be the next project?!? :D
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