The Internet now has become the most popular tool that people can get information from. When we have to search for some information, we will go to search engine to get information. Wikipedia usually shows at the top of search engines and it is free to access (Byers, 2007). Wikipedia is an encyclopedia that is contributed to and edited by many writers and editors (Lengel, 2006). It’s an open and free area, and it’s also the latest encyclopedia that we can find.
Wikipedia is a convenient online encyclopedia. It is suitable for people even students, who want to get information. Wikipedia should not be banned in schools.
Firstly, Wikipedia should be allowed for students to use. Wikipedia is a famous and useful website around the world. There are many different language versions on this site. “Launched Jan. 15, 2001, it is already the ninth most popular Web site in the United States, according to Alexa Internet, a company that monitors Web traffic” (Wolverton, 2007, para. 9). Thus, Wikipedia is free for everyone. It should not be prohibited from schools.
Secondly, students can be encouraged to use Wikipedia. Although, Wikipedia has caused controversy amoung some educators because it may be edited or have posted inaccurate information by anyone (Martin, 2007), other people can also modify it if information is incorrect. “Wikipedia, the internet’s most popular encyclopedia, has become an online phenomenon since it was launched six years ago” (Martin, 2007, para.12). Many people use it, which means that the information from Wikipedia could be accepted. Academics encourage students to search for information online. Wikipedia is one of the sources from the Internet as well, so students can be encouraged to use it.
Finally, Wikipedia is suitable for all students to use. Wikipedia is an encyclopedia website that gains the wisdom of many people who contribute and edit the information. According to Martin (2007, para.13), “seven percent of all Internet users now visit the site every day.” We can search and get information from different websites but Wikipedia is one of the websites that is accepted by most people around the world. Many people accept Wikipedia’s information, which means it also is suitable for students to use.
Wikipedia is a popular website around the world. It should be allowed and encouraged for students to use. It is suitable for all students when they want to search for information from the website. Wikipedia should not be banned in academics.
Reference:
Byers, M. (2008, March 08), Controversy over use of Wikipedia in academic papers arrives at Smith, Sophian, Smith College, Retrieved on April 23, 2008 http://media.www.smithsophian.com/media/storage/paper587/news/2007/03/08/News/Controversy.Over.Use .Of.Wikipedia.In.Academic.Papers.Arrives.A.Smith-5765409.shtml.
Lengel, J. (2006, February 07) Authority. Teaching with Technology, Retrieved on April 23, 2008 http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_technology/article.shtml?ID=12
Martin, N. (2008, Jan. 21), Wikipedia clamps down on ‘unreliable’ editors, Telegraph.co.uk, Retrieved on April 23, 2008 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/newes/main.jhtmal?xml=/news/2007/09/20/wiki120.xml.
Wolverton, J. (2007, January 22). Wikipedia Wisdom, Valley Vanguard, Retrieved on April 23, 2008 http://www.svsu.edu/clubs/vanguard/stories/1141
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