W15: What did I learn while editing Wikipedia? How is this assignment different from more traditional student assignments? Is it more fun? / Suyoung Han

 Wikipedia Report

What did I learn while editing Wikipedia?

 Editing Wikipedia, I learned how to systematically gather information. In addition, I was able to learn more about how collective intelligence is actually formed, and the benefits of collective intelligence by participating in the process.

 The term collective intelligence was often used with friends. In a major class where he often worked on team assignments, he used the term 'Collective Intelligence' as a meme. Before taking the class, I thought that collective intelligence was just 'a group of people working together to finish a common goal'. However, as I edited Wikipedia and joined the collective intelligence, I learned that my view was narrow. I came to realize that the information created by the collective intelligence requires processing, and since it is working with others, I need to be more careful, and I need continuous feedback. Also, because I was working with several people, I was able to learn anew that others should bring and use information from reliable sources, and follow common rules when writing information.

Through this class, I was able to understand the overall system of collective intelligence and I think it will be useful when I get a job and collect user data and use it to create new results.

 

How is this assignment different from more traditional student assignments?

 I think the previous class assignments were just about collecting data and using them to create new ones. Most of the assignments were performed centered on creativity. So, the data was not emphasized, and the data was used as a means to derive ideas.

 However, I think that 'data' was the most important for this task. The data itself was important, such as where the data came from when it came from, and whether the source was a reliable medium and I think the focus was on clearly describing the data. In that regard, through this class, I think I was able to learn clearly which data to use and which data to be called the “best” data.

 In addition, the existing classic classes simply produced results such as giving presentations or submitting reports, but for me to check them or show them to others, additional activities were needed, such as creating a portfolio or posting materials on other sites. However, since this task was done on a site called Wikipedia, I could easily check the articles I participated in and also see the contribution, so I could easily see how much I was involved in the project. In other words, it was very nice to be able to see my results comfortably without any additional activities.

 

Is it more fun?

 It was hard, but it was fun. In particular, it seems to be a joyful experience that I have never experienced before to have the results visualized and remain on Wikipedia as much as I have suffered. In fact, it was difficult to find sources for the data.

 In particular, the ‘Autumn Uprising of 1946’ that I edited was an event that took place in 1946, and all the historical materials were made up of old materials. For that part, I couldn't find it in a paper or Google book. So while I was vaguely thinking about the source, I searched the school library with the professor's feedback, and luckily was able to find a related book in the preservation library. It was difficult to find the data, but I was proud of myself and my team at the thought that it had become reliable data that much.