In recognition of Wikipedia’s growing role as a “platform for impactful learning”(1), Levy Library is partnering with the ISMMS student WikiProject Medicine group and other local Wikipedians to improve knowledge of the platform and the quality of health information on Wikipedia.

Recently, librarians from around New York City were invited to Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in observance of the worldwide Wiki campaign, #1lib1ref, that completed its annual effort on February 3rd. Wiki organizers and activists frame this campaign as aiming to create a world where “every librarian adds one more reference to Wikipedia”, soliciting librarians to lend their digital literacy expertise to enhance) the integrity of Wiki articles.

Partnering with Consumer Reports Wikipedian-in-Residence, Lane Rasberry, a local leader in improving health content on Wikipedia, and ISMMS WikiProject Medicine site organizer, Felix Richter, Levy librarians Rebecca Snyder and Robin O’Hanlon hosted a two-hour workshop on wiki citation appraisal and editing. Participants had the opportunity to learn nuts and bolts about the Wiki editorial process and, for advanced contributors, to troubleshoot issues encountered while editing Wikipedia.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with highest value placed on learning Wikipedia basics. One librarian remarked that they, “looked forward to discussing the process with students who may be surprised to learn… that not just any random person can edit an article and have those changes stick”, reflecting a common misconception about Wikipedia.

According to recent evidence(2), medical students are using Wikipedia heavily but are not correcting errors when they discover them. Stay tuned for our Wiki edit-a-thon this spring where you’ll have the chance to learn Wiki editing basics and have the opportunity to share your knowledge.

_____________________________________________

  1. Sigalov SE, Nachmias R. Wikipedia as a platform for impactful learning: A new course model in higher education. Education and Information Technologies.1-21.
  2. Herbert VG, Frings A, Rehatschek H, Richard G, Leithner A. Wikipedia–challenges and new horizons in enhancing medical education. BMC medical education. 2015;15(1):32.