I have found Wikipedia to be useful. When I want to find information quickly, and it is not for an assignment, I am happy to go to a Wikipedia page. When I simply want general information on a topic that I am interested in, Wikipedia is able to supply this for me. I think the key with Wikipedia is to remember that the information can be edited by anyone, and can therefore contain misinformation (Russell, 2007).
Wikipedia can be useful as a starting point for an assignment. When I have no idea where to start, I have found that Wikipedia can offer some key ideas, making it a little bit easier to research the main points elsewhere. Wikipedia articles also offer references and citations that will often lead to other reliable sources. It is important to remember to verify the information found in a Wikipedia article to ensure that the information given is correct (Russell, 2007).
There are some educational institutions considering banning students from using Wikipedia (Bogatin, 2007). While I can understand the reasoning behind this proposal, I feel that Wikipedia does have its uses. Wikipedia can be useful as a starting point for assignments, and can provide reliable sources for students to explore. Students should not rely on Wikipedia as a source, and should always verify the information that they have found by doing further research.
Russell, A. 2007, Wikipedia: Useful Information or Unreliable Source?, viewed 8th September 2011, <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/180706/wikipedia_useful_information_or_unreliable.hhtm?cat=15>.
Bogatin, D. 2007, Wikipedia: Should students trust it?, viewed 8th September 2011, <http://www.zdnet.com/blog/micro-markets/wikipedia-should-students-trust-it/911>.
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