Research project on effectiveness of Wikipedia in education as a platform of improving the cognitive ability among students

In this study it is proposed to conduct research on the effectiveness of Wikipedia as a platform of learning. It will be a program with graduate degree students. Students will learn to edit, writing articles, features like templates in Wikipedia and a bit of Wikidata and using queries. Tests are planned in the beginning and at the end of the program to assess the cognitive skills of the students. Tutorials and videos to help educators on how to go about WEP with Kannada context to be generated. This page will track the activities of the project as it progresses.

Wiki-ELearning

This research project has been funded by Wikimedia Foundation. More details about the grant can be read here.

Details about this research project is available in this Google Doc.

Details of the project edit

The program will mainly train about 20-25 students on using Wikipedia as a platform for learning. This will include many activities. Wikipedia –

  • Wikipedia
    • Understanding Wikipedia. Reading Wikipedia articles. Learning how to search for articles. Identifying the areas of improvement and identifying content gaps which can be taken up by the students for improvement.
    • Students will learn how to edit and add articles to Wikipedia – creating account, setting preferences, basics of editing, formatting, lists, sections, userpage, sandbox, links, references, adding photos, tables. Searching for topics. Identifying missing topics. Improving existing articles. Adding new articles. Learning these basic elements will be followed by advanced topics like templates, infoboxes, navigation boxes, talk pages.
  • Wikidata – learning basics of Wikidata, linking Wikipedia articles with Wikidata, using queries to extract information based on some conditions. Learning some basic concepts of programming will benefit the students in improving their cognitive skills. This part is included in learning the concepts like constant, variable, parameter, condition which are needed in developing templates and queries.
  • Photowalks – There will be one or more photowalks to click rich cultural treasures of the area and upload them to Commons.
  • Tests – In the beginning and at the end of the program, tests will be conducted to assess the cognitive skills of the students. Infographs will be generated to show the effect of the program on the thought process among participants. Cognitive ability tests assess abilities involved in thinking, viz., reasoning, perception, memory, verbal and mathematical ability, and problem solving. Tests will have questions designed to estimate these.
    Learning objectives have been defined based on Bloom's taxonomy and its derivatives. Bloom's taxonomy is a set of three hierarchical models used to classify educational learning objectives into levels of complexity and specificity. The three lists cover the learning objectives in cognitive, affective and sensory domains. The cognitive domain list has been the primary focus of most traditional education and is frequently used to structure curriculum learning objectives, assessments and activities (Wikipedia). The cognitive domain is broken into the six levels of objectives listed below-
 
BloomsTaxonomy
Bloom’s taxonomy provides the basis for assessing the outcome of learning programs. The cognitive domain consists of levels to be evaluated. Cognitive domain deals with how a student acquires processes and ulitises the knowledge. Cognitive domain is the core of the learning domain. Cognitive domain is well-suited for computer-based assessment or in other words the frequently used multiple-choice answers type of examinations. The levels in cognitive domains can be measured by making the students involved in -classrooms discussions, tutorials, demonstrations, participations, quizzes (multiple choice questions), projects, assignments, problem-based learning, seminars, viva-voce, etc. All these need not be used in the present scenario or all may not fit very well. But nevertheless, the evaluations will follow this framework. Questions will be designed involving the different levels. A template will be devised to set the questions. Based on the values, the achievements of cognitive levels of each student can be measured. The improvement in the course can be done based on the feedback. This can be done in a continuous evaluation model. Hence the entire process is not just - test in the beginning and test again at the end - kind of model.
  • Generation of materials – Tutorial files and videos will be created to help educators on how to go about WEP. To help the educators from this region, these will be created in Kannada language. I will be generating these materials with the help of students and the community.
  • Certificate course – Entire program will be designed in the form of a certificate course. This will benefit the students by acquiring a certificate which will add to their Curriculum Vitae. There will be sessions on weekends, so that their regular classes are not affected. Hands-on training and practical sessions will be conducted in computer labs consisting of PCs with Internet connection. Resource persons will be training the students on various aspects as already mentioned above. Every month, there will be physical sessions in the PC lab. This will be followed by online interactions. They will include checking of the students’ assignments, giving feedback, correcting their works where needed, giving more assignments, helping them wherever needed. There will be online meetups employing Google Meet, Zoom or similar platforms. Thus, the whole certificate course will be an year long activity.

Activities edit

 
Wiki ELearning Project Participants with the mentor Dr. U.B. Pavanaja

The entire project will be executed as a certificate course running through an year for the students. The course is titled "Wiki E-Learning". Structure of the course is given below:

Ser.No. Module name Details Duration Expected learning outcomes
Class room (hrs) Activities (hrs) Period
1 Wikipedia Intro Basic introduction to Wikipedia: Understanding Wikipedia. Reading Wikipedia articles. Learning how to search for articles. Identifying the areas of improvement and identifying content gaps which can be taken up by the students for improvement 2.00 6.00 2 weeks Understand how Wikipedia works and finding areas of improvement
2 Wikipedia editing Creating account, setting preferences, basics of editing, formatting, lists, sections, userpage, sandbox, links, references, adding photos, tables. Searching for topics. Identifying missing topics. Improving existing articles. Adding new articles. 12.00 12.00 2 months Learn how to edit and add articles to Wikipedia
3 HTML and CSS Basics of HTML and CSS. Designing a web page, adding images, fonts and page design with CSS 6.00 6.00 1 week Basic web page design
4 Advanced Wiki editing Learning advanced topics like templates, infoboxes, navigation boxes, talk pages 6.00 12.00 2 months Learn advanced Wiki topics
5 Wiki projects Other Wiki projects of Wikimedia - Wikisource, Wiktionary, Wikiquote, Commons 2.00 10.00 2 weeks Learn to contribute to other Wiki projects. Learn how to add content.
6 Wikidata Intro Learning basics of Wikidata, linking Wikipedia articles with Wikidata 3.00 9.00 2 weeks Wikidata basics. Adding info to Wikidata. Editing Wikidata
7 Queries Learning and using Wikipedia and Wikidata queries. Filtering data based on queries using conditions. Generating reports 4.00 8.00 2 months Learning some basic concepts of programming using Wikipedia tools
8 Photowalk Photowalks to click rich cultural treasures of the area and upload them to Commons 8.00 6.00 1 weekend Undrstand GLAM concepts, click photos of importance, add them to Commons
9 Tests Tests to evaluate cognitive skills, learning outcomes, continous progress monitoring
10 Tutorials creation Exercise in creation of missing tutorials for the Wiki topics 1 month

People edit

Organisers edit

  • Principal Researcher: Dr. U.B. Pavanaja
  • Patron: Dr. Bhaskar Shetty S., Principal, Dr G. Shankar Govt. Women's First Grade College & Post Graduate Study Centre, Udupi
  • Co-ordinator: Ramachandra Adiga G., HoD of Computer Science, Dr G. Shankar Govt. Women's First Grade College & Post Graduate Study Centre, Udupi
  • Education psychology expert: Dr.T.N. Lokesh, Prof. Dept of Education, NMKRV College for Women, Jayanagar, Bengaluru
  • Cognitive skills: Vaidehi P. S., MSc in Psychology

Participants edit

Here is the list of students who are participating in this project:

  1. Akshatha prabhu
  2. Akshitha achar
  3. Ananya Rao Katpadi
  4. Apoorva poojay
  5. Ashwini Devadigha
  6. Chaithali C Nayak
  7. Chaithra C Nayak
  8. Chaitra. B. H.
  9. Kavya.S.M
  10. Kavyashri hebbar
  11. KR Sanjana Hebbar
  12. Acharya Manasa
  13. Pallaviv123
  14. Praajna G
  15. Prajna gopal
  16. Prajna poojari
  17. Prakrathi shettigar
  18. Rakshitha b kulal
  19. Sahana Poojary
  20. Shreya. Bhaskar
  21. Veena Sundar N.
  22. Vinaya M A
  23. Vismaya U

Endorsements edit

This section is for endorsements only. If you have any comment, opinion or suggestion, please write them in the discussion page.

  1. This is good effort. Endorsing Dr Pavanaja to drive this.--Gangaasoonu (talk) 10:56, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  2. I endorse this program proposal as this will benefit in aspects of good content, quality and community building by targetting students in education environment. --Vikas Hegde (talk) 12:21, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  3. This is a good initiative. I would like to Endorse Dr Pavanaja as this would increase the usefullness, reach of wiki content . It would benefit the education sector as well.-- ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ (talk) 14:41, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  4. Good initiative. ಮಲ್ನಾಡಾಚ್ ಕೊಂಕ್ಣೊ (talk) 15:46, 2 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  5. I endorse this proposal. This is very good program, It helps the education environment, so I Endorse Dr. Pavanaja for his effort --Kishorekumarrai (talk) 02:17, 3 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  6. I endorse this project proposal. The gender gap argument is extremely important. Dr. Pavanaja thank you for your brilliant ideas --User:Tomas Castelo Moz
  7. Good initiative. Promoting wiki among the rural students definitely improves the data in wiki and students also will be benefited. I endorse this program. Soorya Hebbar talk 06:30, 3 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  8. I really endorse this project proposal, this is actually very good initiative program in this region. it gives a clear picture of Wikipedia in the field of education. many educationalists will gain knowledge about Wikipedia community. --Santhosh Notagar (talk) 10:34, 3 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  9. This project is need to our community. In our region we have three wikipedia languages(Kannada, Tulu and Konkani). So many of wikipedia editors will joine the editathon and photo walk. I endorse this project.--Vishwanatha Badikana (talk) 10:48, 3 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  10. I endorse this proposal --Sudheerbs (talk) 05:56, 4 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  11. I strongly support this proposal. Kambai Akau (talk) 15:17, 5 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  12. I strongly support this proposal - Dhanalakshmi .K. T (talk) 09:08, 6 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  13. I endorse this proposal --BHARATHESHA ALASANDEMAJALU (talk) 04:48, 9 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  14. I endorse this proposal. --Krishnakulkarni36 (talk) 06:59, 9 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  15. I support this proposal - Arpitha05 (talk) 05:57, 10 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  16. I support this proposal- --Chaithra C Nayak (talk) 06:16, 11 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  17. I Support this project --Babitha Shetty (talk) 06:39, 11 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  18. I strongly support this project-- Mahaveer Indra (talk) 07:24, 11 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  19. I strong support this project. This project is need to our community. Gill jassu (talk) 05:01, 21 December 2021 (UTC)[reply]
  20. We at Dr G Shankar Govt. Women's First Grade College & Post Graduate Study Centre, Udupi, have jointly organized Wikipedia Editathons/Workshops in association with Karavali Wikimedians and Wikiwomen Mangaluru in the past. Students have utilized the opportunities and appreciated the efforts. As per the feedback received, the students are expecting more skill-imparting and participative learning of new techniques and technologies of content creation and sharing. The project proposed by Dr UB Pavanaja is a timely one and really benefitting students for whom digital skills and digital learning has become an integral part of their education even inside their classrooms. I strongly endorse the proposed project and wish Dr Pavanaja all the very best. Gradiga (talk) 15:43, 4 January 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  21. I Support this project. --Vidyadhar Chipli (talk) 07:19, 28 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  22. I support this project-Vinoda mamatharai (talk) 13:07, 24 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Interested in joining hands? edit

Anyone interested in joining hands for this research project is welcome. Such persons are invited to put their signature below. For signing, first login using your Wikipedia/Wikimedia credentials and add your signature by typing #-~~~~

  1. -Mahaveer Indra (talk) 04:26, 9 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  2. -Dr Chandra Shekhara Shetty (talk) 04:43, 9 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  3. -Dr Ravindra Swami K
  4. -Chaithra C Nayak (talk) 08:19, 9 March 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Glad to join. A great opportunity for me to learn. Musahfm (talk) 09:21, 8 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  6. ವೈದೇಹೀ ಪಿ ಎಸ್
  7. -Alhassan Mohammed Awal (talk) 22:31, 14 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  8. -Dhanalakshmi .K. T (talk) 15:30, 19 April 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  9. --Vidyadhar Chipli (talk) 07:31, 28 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  10. --Sudheerbs (talk) 07:38, 30 May 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  11. -Arpitha05 (talk) 21:17, 10 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  12. --Vikas Hegde (talk) 08:02, 25 June 2022 (UTC)[reply]
  13. Ashay vb (talk) 06:50, 29 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]