Wikiversity

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Wikiversity is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation, aimed at supporting educational activities, including the creation, organization, and distribution of free educational content. Unlike its sister projects such as Wikipedia, Wikibooks, and Wiktionary, Wikiversity is focused on learning resources, learning projects, and research for use in all levels, types, and styles of education from pre-school to university, including professional training and informal learning. It allows users to find learning resources, to create new learning resources, and to share their resources with others.

Overview

Wikiversity's goal is to create a free, open, and vibrant learning community that spans all age groups and subject areas. It is designed to support both learners and teachers by providing a space for the creation of open educational resources (OER) and the development of community-supported learning and teaching methods. Users can participate in Wikiversity in various ways, such as creating content, teaching courses, participating in discussions, and conducting or participating in research projects.

Content and Structure

The content on Wikiversity is organized around two main types of resources: learning resources and research projects. Learning resources can include anything from lecture notes, tutorials, assignments, and quizzes to entire courses or programs of study. Research projects on Wikiversity are collaborative efforts to conduct original research or to support existing research efforts.

Learning Projects

Learning projects are a key component of Wikiversity. They are collaborative efforts aimed at learning a particular subject or skill. These projects can range from formal courses with structured lessons to more informal groups of learners working together to explore a topic of mutual interest.

Research Projects

Research projects on Wikiversity are intended to support the creation of new knowledge or to provide learning experiences in conducting research. These projects can be in any field of study and often involve collaboration between learners, educators, and researchers.

Participation

Participation in Wikiversity is open to anyone with an interest in teaching, learning, or research. Users can contribute by creating new learning resources, editing existing ones, participating in or starting new learning or research projects, and engaging with the community through discussions and collaborative activities.

Technology

Wikiversity is powered by the MediaWiki software, which is also used by Wikipedia and other Wikimedia projects. This allows for easy editing, formatting, and linking of content. The platform supports a variety of multimedia resources, including text, images, audio, and video, making it a versatile tool for educational content creation.

Challenges and Criticisms

As with any open collaborative project, Wikiversity faces challenges related to quality control, reliability of content, and the balance between inclusivity and the need to maintain academic standards. Efforts to address these challenges include community review processes, the development of guidelines for content creation, and the encouragement of contributions from experts and educators.

Conclusion

Wikiversity represents an ambitious attempt to leverage the power of collaborative online communities for educational purposes. By providing a platform for the creation and sharing of open educational resources, it offers a unique resource for learners and educators alike. As it continues to grow and evolve, Wikiversity has the potential to play a significant role in the future of education.