Research: Wikipedia & Wikiwand

February 27, 2018

Wikipedia

When it comes to research, Wikipedia is by far the biggest online source of information our students use. Students are regularly told to avoid Wikipedia due to its potential unreliability but because it is easy to access, provides lots of information for students, and is usually within the top 3 search results for any given topic, this advice is often ignored. While Wikipedia may not always be the best source of information, it is a great place for students to start their research.

So what does Wikipedia this have to do with EdTech?

Well first I want to dispel the inaccuracy myth of Wikipedia. Many studies have been done on Wikipedia's accuracy and all have shown it has an accuracy rate > 95%. Second, and more importantly, if our students are using Wikipedia for research why not help to make it a better research tool.

Enter the Chrome Extension Wikiwand!

Wikiwand

What is Wikiwand?

Wikiwand is Chrome extension that enhances the readability of Wikipedia, making it cleaner, clearer, and more organized.

Once installed, Wikiwand will automatically convert every Wikipedia page a user visits to a more professional and dynamic layout. Listed below are some of the key features and enhancements offered by the Wikiwand extension:

- New clean layout for optimal readability
- Great modern typography
- Convenient fixed table-of-contents to the left of the page
- Quick preview when hovering over links
- Multi-language search with thumbnails
- Beautiful, immersive cover photos
- Larger photos and better media gallery
- Easy article narration and audio playback
- Personalized colour, font and layout

Get Wikiwand

How to Install Wikiwand

Be sure you/your students are signed into Chrome first > instructions HERE

Find Wikiwand in the Chrome Web Store HERE.
- or do a quick search for it
Click on Add to Chrome to install
You will see the Wikiwand icon (white square with an uppercase W) appear in the top right corner of your Chrome Web Browser.

Features of Wikiwand

To left of every Wikipedia page students will now see a table of contents. Students can use this menu to quickly find and jump to the section of the Wikipedia page that they want, no longer needing to scroll through the entire page to find relevant information.

Students can hide/show this navigation menu by clicking on the 3 horizontal lines found at the upper left of window.

Page Previews

By hovering the mouse over any linked (blue) text, Wikiwand will display a preview of the linked article/page. This is a great tool for students to use to quickly define or clarify information related to the article they are reading.

Wikipedia Menu

By Clicking on the W - Wikipedia icon students have the ability to read the article as it appears on Wikipedia, download the article as a PDF, and print it if required.

Change the Language

Students can change the language settings in Wikiwand by clicking on the EN (English) icon and selecting from 1 of the additional 40 language options. Searches can also be performed in any of the languages provided.

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