Wikipedia.org

I liked Michael Bess' attitude towards Wikipedia. Instead of ignoring or condemning it, he uses it in a innovative and purposefully way in the classroom. It is a really good example how the classroom has harnessed technology and embraced it in such way that everyone benefits. Students are able to see something that they use on a regular basis as useful tool that requires skepticism. The teacher finds a project that the students are interested and familiar with and society benefits with better researched information.

It is so important that students learn to be skeptical about new information. It is a huge misconception that if it is in a history book that it is truth. Many students and people forget that history is written down by people who have their own opinions. It is almost impossible for people to separate themselves from their own biases. Learning to be critical of all the information being flooded around us keeps us from becoming the ignorant masses. Especially with the internet giving us access to loads of informations written down by millions of people, it is key that students learn how to use these resources correctly. It is easy to not check up on information and just spread lies as truth.