Difference between revisions of "Submissions:2016/Why medical schools should embrace Wikipedia"

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The abstract -
 
The abstract -
   
At the end of 2013, Wikipedia's medical content contained over 155,000 articles across 255 languages, supported by over 950,000 references. Most medical students use Wikipedia as an information source, yet medical schools don't train students to improve or use Wikipedia critically. Between November 2013 - November 2015, the authors offered fourth-year medical students a credit-bearing course to edit Wikipedia. The course was designed, delivered and evaluated by faculty, medical librarians, WikiProject Medicine, Wikipedia Education Foundation, and Translators Without Borders. The authors assessed Impact of the student edits on Wikipedia's content, impact of the course on student participants, and readership of students' chosen articles. Fourty-three enrolled students made 1,528 edits (average 36/student), contributing 493,994 content bytes (average 11,488/student). They added higher and removed lower quality sources for a net addition of 274 references (average 7/student). In two subsequent years, none of the contributions of the first 28 students were Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation reversed or vandalized. Students discovered a tension between comprehensiveness vs. readability and translatability, yet readability of most articles increased. Students felt they improved their articles, enjoyed giving back "specifically to Wikipedia," and
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At the end of 2013, Wikipedia's medical content contained over 155,000 articles across 255 languages, supported by over 950,000 references. While students use Wikipedia as an information source, health-professional schools don't train students to improve or use Wikipedia critically. Between November 2013 - March 2016, the authors offered fourth-year medical students a credit-bearing course to edit Wikipedia. The course was designed, delivered and evaluated by faculty, medical librarians, WikiProject Medicine, Wikipedia Education Foundation, and Translators Without Borders. The authors assessed the impact of the student edits on Wikipedia's content, the impact of the course on student participants, and readership of students' chosen articles. Fifty enrolled students made 1,875 edits to 44 Wikipedia pages that were viewed 1,659,065 times during the active-editing months. In two subsequent years, none of the contributions of the first 28 students were reversed or vandalized. From the 2014 - 2016, 241 pharmacy students completed the Wikipedia-editing assignment. They made over 3000 edits to 147 Wikipedia pages that were viewed 2,017,505 times during the active-editing months. Students discovered a tension between comprehensiveness vs. readability and translatability, yet readability of most articles increased. Students felt they improved their articles, enjoyed giving back "specifically to Wikipedia," and broadened their sense of physician responsibilities in the socially networked information era. Subsequent to students' efforts, these articles have been viewed over 22 million times. If other schools replicate and improve on this initiative, future multi-institution studies could more accurately measure the impact of medical students on Wikipedia, and vice versa.
broadened their sense of physician responsibilities in the socially networked information era. During only the active editing months, Wikipedia traffic statistics indicate the 43 articles were collectively viewed 1,116,065 times. Subsequent to students' efforts, these articles have been viewed over 22 million times. If other schools replicate and improve on this initiative, future multi-institution studies could more accurately measure the impact of medical students on Wikipedia, and vice versa.
 
   
 
;Length of presentation: 30 minutes
 
;Length of presentation: 30 minutes

Revision as of 21:18, 19 August 2016

Title
Why medical schools should embrace Wikipedia
Theme
education
Academic Peer Review option
yes
Type of submission
presentation
Author
(presenter to be determined), but credit to
  • Amin Azzam, MD, MA
  • David Bresler, MD, MA
  • Armando Leon, MD
  • Lauren Maggio, PhD
  • Evans Whitaker, MD, MLIS
  • James Heilman, MD, BSc
  • Jake Orlowitz, BA
  • Valerie Swisher, BA
  • Lane Rasberry, BS
  • Kingsley Otoide, BS
  • Fred Trotter, BS
  • Will Ross, BS
  • Jack McCue, MD
E-mail address
lrasberry@consumer.org
Username
bluerasberry and various
Affiliation
various, but especially University of California, San Francisco
Abstract

"Why medical schools should embrace Wikipedia: Analysis of final-year medical student contributions to Wikipedia articles for academic credit at one school" is a paper which will be published in Academic Medicine soon. Any of the papers' authors who are able to attend WikiConference would like to present its findings.

The abstract -

At the end of 2013, Wikipedia's medical content contained over 155,000 articles across 255 languages, supported by over 950,000 references. While students use Wikipedia as an information source, health-professional schools don't train students to improve or use Wikipedia critically. Between November 2013 - March 2016, the authors offered fourth-year medical students a credit-bearing course to edit Wikipedia. The course was designed, delivered and evaluated by faculty, medical librarians, WikiProject Medicine, Wikipedia Education Foundation, and Translators Without Borders. The authors assessed the impact of the student edits on Wikipedia's content, the impact of the course on student participants, and readership of students' chosen articles. Fifty enrolled students made 1,875 edits to 44 Wikipedia pages that were viewed 1,659,065 times during the active-editing months. In two subsequent years, none of the contributions of the first 28 students were reversed or vandalized. From the 2014 - 2016, 241 pharmacy students completed the Wikipedia-editing assignment. They made over 3000 edits to 147 Wikipedia pages that were viewed 2,017,505 times during the active-editing months. Students discovered a tension between comprehensiveness vs. readability and translatability, yet readability of most articles increased. Students felt they improved their articles, enjoyed giving back "specifically to Wikipedia," and broadened their sense of physician responsibilities in the socially networked information era. Subsequent to students' efforts, these articles have been viewed over 22 million times. If other schools replicate and improve on this initiative, future multi-institution studies could more accurately measure the impact of medical students on Wikipedia, and vice versa.

Length of presentation
30 minutes
Special schedule requests
Preferred room size
50
Will you attend WikiConference North America if your submission is not accepted?
yes

Interested attendees

If you are interested in attending this session, please sign with your username below. This will help reviewers to decide which sessions are of high interest. Sign with four tildes. (~~~~).

  1. --Pine (talk) 02:59, 19 August 2016 (EDT) Lane: is the inclusion of "Powered by Editorial Manager® and ProduXion Manager® from Aries Systems Corporation" in the abstract an accident?
  2. Add your username here.