Using Wikipedia (Interdisciplinary)

Crash Course: Using Wikipedia (Interdisciplinary)

Crash Course: Using Wikipedia

Introduction Did you know that Wikipedia has over 50 million articles in 300 languages, making it the 5th most visited website in the world? That's a lot of information at your fingertips, but can you trust it?

The Core Idea Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit, but it's not just a bunch of random people typing away. It's a complex system that relies on community collaboration, expert knowledge, and a set of rules to ensure accuracy and reliability. In this Crash Course, we'll explore the ins and outs of using Wikipedia, from its history to its limitations.

Key Facts & Figures

• 1979: The first online encyclopedia, called "Berkely Encyclopedia," was launched by a group of students at the University of California, Berkeley.
• 2001: Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger founded Wikipedia, which quickly gained popularity and became the largest online encyclopedia in the world.
• 2006: Wikipedia reached 1 million articles in 200 languages.
• 2011: Wikipedia had over 18 million articles in 285 languages.
• 2019: Wikipedia had over 50 million articles in 300 languages.
• 2019: The most popular language on Wikipedia is English, with over 5.5 million articles.
• 2019: The least popular language on Wikipedia is Sranan Tongo, with only 1 article.
• 2019: Wikipedia has over 200,000 active editors worldwide.
• 2019: Wikipedia receives over 18 billion page views per month.
• 2019: Wikipedia has a 0.1% error rate, which is lower than many traditional encyclopedias.
• 2019: Wikipedia has a 90% accuracy rate for articles with multiple sources.
• 2019: Wikipedia has a 70% accuracy rate for articles with a single source.
• 2019: Wikipedia has a 50% accuracy rate for articles with no sources.
• 2019: Wikipedia has a 30% accuracy rate for articles with conflicting sources.

Thought Bubble Imagine you're a historian trying to research the life of Leonardo da Vinci. You start by searching for his Wikipedia page, which has over 100 sources and 20,000 words. As you scroll through the page, you notice that some of the information is outdated, while other sections are missing crucial details. You decide to edit the page to add more information about Da Vinci's inventions, but you're not sure if your changes will be accepted by the community. You click the "edit" button and start typing, but you're not sure if your changes will be accurate or reliable.

Why This Matters

• Information overload: With the rise of the internet, we're faced with an overwhelming amount of information, and Wikipedia is one of the most popular sources of information.
• Knowledge democratization: Wikipedia has democratized access to knowledge, making it possible for anyone to contribute and access information.
• Community collaboration: Wikipedia relies on community collaboration to ensure accuracy and reliability, which is a unique aspect of online collaboration.
• Expert knowledge: Wikipedia relies on expert knowledge to ensure accuracy and reliability, which is a key aspect of online collaboration.
• Rules and regulations: Wikipedia has a set of rules and regulations to ensure accuracy and reliability, which is a key aspect of online collaboration.
• Bias and neutrality: Wikipedia has a bias and neutrality policy to ensure that articles are written in a neutral and unbiased tone.
• Censorship and vandalism: Wikipedia has a system in place to prevent censorship and vandalism, which is a key aspect of online collaboration.

Crash Course Recap

• Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
• Wikipedia has over 50 million articles in 300 languages.
• Wikipedia relies on community collaboration to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Wikipedia has a set of rules and regulations to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Wikipedia has a bias and neutrality policy to ensure that articles are written in a neutral and unbiased tone.
• Wikipedia has a system in place to prevent censorship and vandalism.
• Wikipedia receives over 18 billion page views per month.
• Wikipedia has a 0.1% error rate.
• Wikipedia has a 90% accuracy rate for articles with multiple sources.
• Wikipedia has a 70% accuracy rate for articles with a single source.
• Wikipedia has a 50% accuracy rate for articles with no sources.
• Wikipedia has a 30% accuracy rate for articles with conflicting sources.
• Wikipedia relies on expert knowledge to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Wikipedia has a unique aspect of online collaboration.

Quiz Yourself

1. What is the name of the first online encyclopedia? a) Wikipedia b) Berkely Encyclopedia c) Encyclopedia Britannica d) World Book

Answer: b) Berkely Encyclopedia

1. How many languages does Wikipedia have articles in? a) 100 b) 200 c) 300 d) 500

Answer: c) 300

1. What is the most popular language on Wikipedia? a) English b) Spanish c) French d) German

Answer: a) English

1. What is the error rate of Wikipedia? a) 0.1% b) 1% c) 10% d) 20%

Answer: a) 0.1%

1. What is the accuracy rate of Wikipedia for articles with multiple sources? a) 50% b) 70% c) 90% d) 95%

Answer: c) 90%

Answer Key

1. The first online encyclopedia was Berkely Encyclopedia, launched in 1979.
2. Wikipedia has articles in over 300 languages.
3. The most popular language on Wikipedia is English.
4. Wikipedia has a 0.1% error rate.
5. Wikipedia has a 90% accuracy rate for articles with multiple sources.