Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Alverno College/Microbial Ecology (Fall 2016)

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Course name
Microbial Ecology
Institution
Alverno College
Instructor
Sherry Seston
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Microbial Ecology
Course dates
2016-09-02 – 2016-12-09
Approximate number of student editors
6


Microbial ecology is the study of microorganisms in the environment. This sounds rather simple at first, but actually encompasses complex interactions with the physical and chemical environment, inter- and intraspecies interactions, and dispersal and survival strategies. Another important aspect of microbial ecology is the methods used to study microorganisms in the environment. The revival and growth of microbial ecology as a field has been dependent upon advances in molecular biology that have greatly improved are ability to identify, quantify, and track microorganisms. We will examine the role of microbial communities in the environment and the human body by exploring the many contributions of female microbiologists to microbial ecology.

Student Assigned Reviewing
MCSimps Katrina Edwards
SAVega7 Mary Ann Moran
Burbyhe Rita R. Colwell
Kmvoight Samantha B. Joye

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Friday, 2 September 2016
In class -

In class

  •  Overview of the course
  •  Introduction to how Wikipedia will be used in the course
  •  Handout: Editing Wikipedia (available in print or online from the Wiki Education Foundation)
  •  Basics of editing
  •  Anatomy of Wikipedia articles, what makes a good article, how to distinguish between good and bad articles
  •  Tips on finding the best articles to work on for class assignments
  •  Compare the biographies written about Carl Woese and Rita Colwell on Wikipedia
  •  Handouts: Using Talk Pages handout and Evaluating Wikipedia brochure

Assignments (due Week 2)

  •  Create an account and then complete the online training for students. During this training, you will make edits in a sandbox and learn the basic rules of Wikipedia.
  •  Create a User page, and click the "enroll" button on the top left of this course page.
  •  To practice editing and communicating on Wikipedia, write a summary of the differences between the biographies on Rita Colwell and Carl Woese, two very important microbiologists.

Week 2

Course meetings
Tuesday, 6 September 2016   |   Friday, 9 September 2016
In class - Learning about your scientist

In class

Assignment (due Week 3)

  •  Add 1–2 sentences of information about a woman scientist, backed up with a citation to an appropriate source, to your sandbox.
  •  I will respond to you and assign topics to each person by week 3.

Week 3

Course meetings
Tuesday, 13 September 2016   |   Friday, 16 September 2016
In class - Bibliographies & Reading Assignments

In class

  •  Discuss the women we will be researching and how their research is related to each other.
  •  Finalize choices and schedule for readings and discussion of each women's research.

Assignments (due Week 4 & 5)

  •  Compile a bibliography of relevant research and post it your talk page. Begin reading the sources and selecting the ones that the whole class will read.
  •  Continue research in preparation for writing your article, read and discuss everyone's topics.

Week 4

Course meetings
Tuesday, 20 September 2016   |   Friday, 23 September 2016
In class - Drafting starter articles

In class

  •  Talk about Wikipedia culture and etiquette, and (optionally) revisit the concept of sandboxes and how to use them.
  •  Q&A session with instructor and/or Wikipedia Ambassadors about interacting on Wikipedia and getting started with writing. 

Assignments (due Week 6)

  •  If you are starting a new article, write 3–4 paragraphs and set up the structure of your article. If you are improving an existing article, write a summary version reflecting the content the article will have after it's been improved, and post this along with a brief description of your plans on the article’s talk page.
  •  Begin working with classmates and other editors.

Milestone

  •  All students have started editing articles or drafts on Wikipedia.

Week 5

Course meetings
Tuesday, 27 September 2016   |   Friday, 30 September 2016
In class - Moving articles to the main space

In class

Assignments (due Week 7)

  •  Move sandbox articles into main space.
  •  Begin expanding your article into a comprehensive biography.

Week 6

Course meetings
Tuesday, 4 October 2016   |   Friday, 7 October 2016

Week 7

Course meetings
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
In class - Week 7
Building articles

 Workshop in class

Assignments (due Week 8)

  •  Expand your article into an initial draft of a comprehensive biography.
  •  Select two classmates’ articles that you will peer review and copy-edit. (You don’t need to start reviewing yet.)

Week 8

Course meetings
Tuesday, 18 October 2016   |   Friday, 21 October 2016
In class - Week 8
Getting and giving feedback

In class

  •  As a group, have the students offer suggestions for improving one or two of the students' articles, setting the example for what is expected from a solid encyclopedia article.

Assignments (due Week 9 - Midterm Week)

  •  Peer review two of your classmates' articles. Leave suggestions on the article talk pages.
  •  Copy-edit the two reviewed articles.

Milestone

  •  All articles have been reviewed by others. All students have reviewed articles by their classmates.

Week 9

Course meetings
Tuesday, 25 October 2016   |   Friday, 28 October 2016
In class - Week 9 (Midterm Week)
Responding to feedback

In class

  •  Open discussion of the concepts of neutrality, media literacy,

and the impact and limits of Wikipedia. 

Assignments (due Week 10)

  •  Make edits to your article based on peers’ feedback. Prepare for an in-class presentation about your Wikipedia editing experience.
In class - Week 10
Class discussion

 In class

  •  Students discuss their experiences editing Wikipedia.
  •  Add final touches to your Wikipedia article. 
  •  Write a reflective self assessment

Grading

Wikipedia contributions will be judged as follows: 

  • 5% each (x3): Participation grade for early Wikipedia exercises (weeks 2, 3, and 4)
  • 10%: Participation in Wikipedia discussions in class
  • 10%: Peer reviews and collaboration with classmates
  • 15%: Presentation and reflective essay
  • 50%: Quality of main Wikipedia contributions, evaluated in light of reflective essay
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