Wikipedia

Using of Wikipedia

What is Wikipedia? It is kind of an Internet encyclopedia. Nowadays the Internet is most the important supply in society. People can do anything in the Internet life, such as receiving information, doing work, and becoming globalized. It helps to our life became more comfortable. Wikipedia also belongs in the Internet society. It helps to people get information. It has a large amount of information. According to Byers (2007, para 3), mostly 38 million people visited the English language version of Wikipedia site, because it has advantages like easy to find, appears at the top of many search sites, and is free to access. But those reasons are just a good point of the Wikipedia. Recently, a lot of organizations have banned the articles from Wikipedia, because Wikipedia consists of hundreds of writers and editors, even though sometime that makes confusion. So it can bring some problems of the Internet society. If Wikipedia follows those advise such as should control users editing, not encourage people’s dependence on the Internet, and provide general answer. Those would be helpful to both Wikipedia and users.

First, Wikipedia should control user’s editing. In “Wikipedia clamps down on ‘unreliable’ editors” the author states, “Under the current system, anyone can edit an entry at time, which means that people often post inaccurate and sometime malicious information,” (Martin, 2007, para. 5). It also explains some editors give wrong information so receivers can have wrong information. Therefore, Wikipedia has to decide the rules to protect the correct information.

Second, Wikipedia shouldn’t encourage people’s dependence on the Internet. Wikipedia provides information and it aims to open minds, as people can find everything in the Internet. But in “Teaching with Technology” the author states, “The internet will never be like the school library. Nor should it be. Its value as a communication medium lies in its openness and diversity. But these same aspects make it problematic for our student. They, like many of us, were brought up to trust what we read in a library book, or in the newspaper, or on television. These communication channels were for the most part well-mediated, and so over the years developed respectable authority” (Lengel, 2006, para. 12). Generally, information on the Internet is from books or any kind of communication channels. Recently, people’s dependence on Internet sources should be stopped. The Internet is not always given to perfect answers.

Finally, Wikipedia should provide general answers. Bilodeau (2008, para. 8). argues some sources of definitions help students, but many professors would not find this acceptable. The students are looking for right answers from an encyclopedia but it just gives definitions; if people want get high grades, they should prepare by themselves. The Internet offers only basic information.

In conclusion, the Internet is part of a progress of getting information. But that is not enough. Wikipedia is just one example of an Internet search site. They should give general information. This site’s purpose is help to people, but if they give wrong information it is silly and not their purpose.



References

Bilodeau, E. (2008, February 2). Academic banning of Google and Wikipedia misguided. Weblog. Retrieved April 23, 2008. from http:www.scienceprogress,org/2008/02/wikipedia-and-the-new-curriculum/

Byers, M. (, 2007 March 8). Controversy over use of Wikipedia in academic Papers arrives at Smith. Sophian. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2007/03/08/News/Controversy.Over.Use.Of.Wikipedia.In.Academic.Papers.Arrives.At.Smith-2765409.shtml

Lengel, J. (, 2006 February 7). Authority. Teaching with Technology. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_ technology/article.shtml?ID=12

Martin, N. (, 2008 January 21). Wikipedia clamps down on ‘unreliable’ editors.Telegraph.co.uk, Retrieved April 24, 2008 from http://www.telegrapg.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/20/wiki120.xml

Wolverton, J. (2007, January 22). Wikipedia wisdom. Valley Vanguard. Retrieved April 23, 2008, from http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141