This Course
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Wikipedia Resources
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Connect
Questions? Ask us:
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![]() | This course page is an automatically-updated version of the main course page at dashboard.wikiedu.org. Please do not edit this page directly; any changes will be overwritten the next time the main course page gets updated. |
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the history of science in what we now call Latin America. Throughout the semester, we will focus on the search for knowledge about the natural world, from the ancient world to today in what is now called Mexico, Central and South America. Because it covers such a long period of time and a large geographical area with diverse cultures, languages, and knowledge systems, it is necessarily a survey of the important ideas, people, institutions and developments throughout time.
We will move beyond preconceptions about “science”—that is, European science—by looking at questions raised by those who sought to explain the structure of the heavens, the earth, and the body, as well as those who developed technologies to work within and try to control those structures. We will seek to understand that science is not a European construct, but that cultures all over the world have systems of knowledge about the natural world and each is valid in important ways. Further, we will analyze the close relationship between science and culture, discussing issues such as ethnicity, socio-economic status, and gender which pervade human society, and therefore science. This course is set up chronologically as well as thematically so that we can more fully understand the intricacies within these complex relationships. The course emphasizes written and verbal communication; you can expect to read and write a considerable amount.
As we talked about in class, instead of doing a more traditional paper that only I read, you are going to be learning to analyze Wikipedia and then to create your own articles for Wikipedia. The milestones and assignments listed below are spread out to make it so that nothing will be overwhelming. Organizing the assignments in this way also gives you more time to become comfortable with Wikipedia prior to adding a new article yourself.
This page breaks down writing a Wikipedia article into a series of steps, or milestones. These steps include online trainings to help you get started on Wikipedia.
Our course has also been assigned a Wikipedia Content Expert. Check your Talk page for notes from them. You can also reach them through the "Get Help" button on this page.
To get started, please review the following handouts:
This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.
It's time to think critically about Wikipedia articles. You'll evaluate a Wikipedia article related to the course and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's Talk page.
Now that you're thinking about what makes a "good" Wikipedia article, consider some additional questions.
Familiarize yourself with editing Wikipedia by adding a citation to an article. There are two ways you can do this:
It's time to choose an article and assign it to yourself.
You've picked a topic and found your sources. Now it's time to start writing.
No one in our class is creating a new article, but the steps below are useful in starting your outlining for improving your existing article
Resources:
Editing Wikipedia pages 7–9
Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.
NB: Because we are doing this slightly differently than Wikipedia is explaining, we will be peer reviewing within the sandbox, and not in the article itself. In understanding process of peer review, you may realize that your work in your sandbox isn't particularly well-organized enough to let your classmates see what you are actually doing. I suggest, strongly [read: do this next step before coming to class], that you organize your original work in the sandbox you're working in, if you have not done so already. That way, the parts you may have copied in can be discerned from the parts that you've added.
If you need to make this clear, put a headline for ==Original
article title Edits== and then put your draft and sources you've found under that heading. This should be very much in the shape of a "rough draft" type of paragraph or additions, NOT notes.
You will be peer editing on your own, but you must make sure that you assign an article to yourself so that others know what you're going to be working on, whose sandbox you'll be in, and you can make sure to coordinate with the other reviewer not to save and erase their stuff.
Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.
You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. It's time to work with that feedback to improve your article!
Once you've made improvements to your article based on peer review feedback, it's time to move your work to Wikipedia proper - the "mainspace."
Editing an existing article?
Creating a new article?
Outside of class, do additional research and bring those sources to your Friday meeting with your partner. You will do write with your partner to make further improvements to your article, based on suggestions and your own critique.
Continue to expand and improve your work, and format your article to match Wikipedia's tone and standards. Remember to contact your Content Expert at any time if you need further help!
Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.
Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions. It should be organized in the following way:
It's the final week to develop your article.
Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions. It should be organized in the following way:
Present about your Wikipedia editing experience.
You will sign up for these presentations on Canvas.
You may organize the presentation in the same way that you have organized your reflection paper, but you must give substantial detail in your 10-minute presentation about your edits or new article topic. It should include at least the following:
Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.
This Course
|
Wikipedia Resources
|
Connect
Questions? Ask us:
contact |
![]() | This course page is an automatically-updated version of the main course page at dashboard.wikiedu.org. Please do not edit this page directly; any changes will be overwritten the next time the main course page gets updated. |
The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the history of science in what we now call Latin America. Throughout the semester, we will focus on the search for knowledge about the natural world, from the ancient world to today in what is now called Mexico, Central and South America. Because it covers such a long period of time and a large geographical area with diverse cultures, languages, and knowledge systems, it is necessarily a survey of the important ideas, people, institutions and developments throughout time.
We will move beyond preconceptions about “science”—that is, European science—by looking at questions raised by those who sought to explain the structure of the heavens, the earth, and the body, as well as those who developed technologies to work within and try to control those structures. We will seek to understand that science is not a European construct, but that cultures all over the world have systems of knowledge about the natural world and each is valid in important ways. Further, we will analyze the close relationship between science and culture, discussing issues such as ethnicity, socio-economic status, and gender which pervade human society, and therefore science. This course is set up chronologically as well as thematically so that we can more fully understand the intricacies within these complex relationships. The course emphasizes written and verbal communication; you can expect to read and write a considerable amount.
As we talked about in class, instead of doing a more traditional paper that only I read, you are going to be learning to analyze Wikipedia and then to create your own articles for Wikipedia. The milestones and assignments listed below are spread out to make it so that nothing will be overwhelming. Organizing the assignments in this way also gives you more time to become comfortable with Wikipedia prior to adding a new article yourself.
This page breaks down writing a Wikipedia article into a series of steps, or milestones. These steps include online trainings to help you get started on Wikipedia.
Our course has also been assigned a Wikipedia Content Expert. Check your Talk page for notes from them. You can also reach them through the "Get Help" button on this page.
To get started, please review the following handouts:
This week, everyone should have a Wikipedia account.
It's time to think critically about Wikipedia articles. You'll evaluate a Wikipedia article related to the course and leave suggestions for improving it on the article's Talk page.
Now that you're thinking about what makes a "good" Wikipedia article, consider some additional questions.
Familiarize yourself with editing Wikipedia by adding a citation to an article. There are two ways you can do this:
It's time to choose an article and assign it to yourself.
You've picked a topic and found your sources. Now it's time to start writing.
No one in our class is creating a new article, but the steps below are useful in starting your outlining for improving your existing article
Resources:
Editing Wikipedia pages 7–9
Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.
NB: Because we are doing this slightly differently than Wikipedia is explaining, we will be peer reviewing within the sandbox, and not in the article itself. In understanding process of peer review, you may realize that your work in your sandbox isn't particularly well-organized enough to let your classmates see what you are actually doing. I suggest, strongly [read: do this next step before coming to class], that you organize your original work in the sandbox you're working in, if you have not done so already. That way, the parts you may have copied in can be discerned from the parts that you've added.
If you need to make this clear, put a headline for ==Original
article title Edits== and then put your draft and sources you've found under that heading. This should be very much in the shape of a "rough draft" type of paragraph or additions, NOT notes.
You will be peer editing on your own, but you must make sure that you assign an article to yourself so that others know what you're going to be working on, whose sandbox you'll be in, and you can make sure to coordinate with the other reviewer not to save and erase their stuff.
Every student has finished reviewing their assigned articles, making sure that every article has been reviewed.
You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. It's time to work with that feedback to improve your article!
Once you've made improvements to your article based on peer review feedback, it's time to move your work to Wikipedia proper - the "mainspace."
Editing an existing article?
Creating a new article?
Outside of class, do additional research and bring those sources to your Friday meeting with your partner. You will do write with your partner to make further improvements to your article, based on suggestions and your own critique.
Continue to expand and improve your work, and format your article to match Wikipedia's tone and standards. Remember to contact your Content Expert at any time if you need further help!
Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.
Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions. It should be organized in the following way:
It's the final week to develop your article.
Write a reflective essay (2–5 pages) on your Wikipedia contributions. It should be organized in the following way:
Present about your Wikipedia editing experience.
You will sign up for these presentations on Canvas.
You may organize the presentation in the same way that you have organized your reflection paper, but you must give substantial detail in your 10-minute presentation about your edits or new article topic. It should include at least the following:
Everyone should have finished all of the work they'll do on Wikipedia, and be ready for grading.