Education/News/November 2023/Iranian Students as Wikipedians: Using Wikipedia to Teach Research Methodology and Encyclopedic Writing
Iranian Students as Wikipedians: Using Wikipedia to Teach Research Methodology and Encyclopedic Writing
In the current academic semester in November, Wikipedia has been considered as a part of the educational process in the Research Method in History class with the presence of 20 students at Shahid Beheshti University of Iran. In this course, undergraduate students are using Wikipedia as a platform to enhance their skills in research methods. They are learning the methodology of Encyclopedic writing by reading selected historical articles on the Persian Wikipedia. Additionally, by studying and reviewing Wikipedia's historical articles, students are going to prepare to improve several historical articles on Persian Wikipedia by the end of the semester as part of their coursework. This work is part of their class assignments.
In summary, in the Research Method in History course, students learn how to systematically search for historical data in documents, books, and other sources so that they can write and complete their historical research. Using a platform like Wikipedia and writing historical articles can serve as practice for learning about sources and referencing methods that will aid students in the future in the way of research and essay writing in a correct and standard way. On the other hand, the awareness of the Wikimedia movement and its importance is increasing among the new generation of students.
In addition, in another class titled Medieval History of Iran, students are writing articles related to their course. This course is also led by one of the other active members of the Shahid Beheshti University Wikimedia community. These are part of the Wikipedia Education Program at Shahid Beheshti University organized by an independent community of Wikimedians.