I really enjoyed this chapter due to the fact that I found it, (and this may sound strange) but heartwarming. The idea of a website that is not anyone's job to update, but that it does get updated, reminds us of the goodness in human nature. This may sound a little dramatic or cheesy, but the idea of people who are passionate about a particular subject, and want to share what they know with the world for no monetary compensation or recognition, demonstrates character and a desire to share good information with others.
In the case of JMU coming up with their own Wikipedia, I think it sounds like a wonderful idea! JMU has a strong school spirit and a sense of pride about the student body with which they belong. These attributes would motivate students to contribute to a website on subjects, places, things, ideas...just about anything, and because it was written by students and for students, it would have a unique quality about it. Everyone who was contributing to the website would be in the process of learning, and the process of growing up-so to speak, and I think the intellectual and informational contributions would be interesting to see.
Im not sure that the information would be of a higher quality than worldwide Wikipedia, but it would be a quality website. Students would contribute their ideas in the process of recieving good information from knowledgable professors and books on a daily basis; making the info they contribute pretty fresh and accurate.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
The long tail model would mean it would not be as diverse with regards to articles, but the potential for quality would certainly come about if individuals (a community of practice) valued it for use in and outside of classes.
ReplyDelete