Wikipedia Activity-Post #2

Step Six: Click on the "Discussion Link" at the top of the Wikipedia Page. What does it mean that this article and its editors are subject to General Sanctions? (Blog posting) It means that all editors and articles must follow a set of rules that have been administered buy the community, as well as, the arbitration committee. In other words, there are a set a rules and consequences for the use of information that is placed in the Wikipedia site. Step Seven: Scroll down and read the section titled: Degree of consensus on warming and on causation. In the same blog posting as above, tell me what you learn about global warming as a result of reading this discussion? That the readers of Wikipedia, those that discuss the issues to be exact, are finding that there seems to be somewhat of a bias opinion about global warming and would like to see different opinions and theories put together so that readers can make up their own minds on how they feel about the issue. Step Eight: Click on the user Uncle Ed. Read his profile page. What kind of person is Uncle Ed. Read his Factoid section. What kind of person is "Uncle Ed"? I feel that he, in my opinion, is a cocky and arrogant kind of person. I say this because he brags about the things he has done while using Wikipedia over the years. I guess you could say that he is a “know it all”. What do you think his political affiliation (i.e. conservative, liberal, libertarian) are. Why? I would have to say that he is either a liberal or libertarian. I am not that great when it comes to politics but it seems as though he is open to the ideas of many different issues. What is his perspective on Global Warming? How do you know? He says that he has no position on global warming that he wants to share but feels that Wikipedia needs to be more open to other ideas and theories about the issue. Click on User Stephan_Schulz. What kind of person is Stephan Schultz? He is a person who is involved in the sciences and helps maintain valid and correct information on Wikipedia. What do you think his political affiliations are? Why? I am not sure where he stands politically. What is his perspective on Global Warming? How do you know? Reading his comments in the discussion, it seems as though he agrees that humans are the main cause of global warming. Step Nine: Complete the blog posting you started in step six by telling me what you learned about the validity of information from Wikipedia. How do think Wikipedia could be integrated into classroom activities. What you think about using Wikipedia instead of textbooks? Post an image that represents your views on Global Warming.

After completing this activity, I now feel that the information that is found in Wikipedia is much more valid that I had thought beforehand.  I think that Wikipedia could be used as a great starting point for students during research assignments. I am not sure how I feel about replacing textbooks with Wikipedia. As an art teacher, I feel that there is no use for textbooks in my classroom…it is my job to provide my students with the information, images, etc…that they need in order to be successful in my classes.   

 So, I had to find a bit of humor in such a serious topic! Let's face it, global warming is an issue that we are going to deal with till the end of time. While we can do our part in order to lessen the effects humans have in global warming, the Earth will continue to change forever!!!!