Wikipedia Stub Article

This week in ALES 204 we were learning a lot more about Wikipedia, it's reliability, and how we can get involved.  The stub that I chose to write on was "blacklight poster".  I thought it would be interesting and I also wanted to know more about how they worked.  Since it was a more general, social topic there wasn't much to be found in scientific journals or databases.  So I chose to get my information from a Wikipedia approved website, http://science.howstuffworks.com.  I expanded the article on three different areas which I categorized as "What are blacklight designs?", "How do blacklight posters work?", and "How do I make my blacklight poster glow?".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blacklight_poster

Expanding on this article was an excellent way to see how we can get involved with the information process and make an impact on our expert areas.  Although blacklight posters are not my specialty it showed me how easy it is to add my opinion and research that I have done to those topics I have studied.

However, there is a downside to this.  The fact that anybody can make an account with Wikipedia and add information into any topic is worry some.  It is also the reason why it is not a reputable source and should not be used in an academic paper.  There can be a lot of false information as well as vandalism on a public website so viewers must be aware of this.  When settling a dinner time argument Wikipedia is a great source but when looking for something peer-reviewed it is better to search for the sources through an academic database.

If you are also interested in learning more about blacklight posters you can do to this Wikipedia page that I helped to expand.  You can also learn more about overlearning here.  This was a stub that Emily worked on expanding.

Social Media: It's Not All Fun and Games

Throughout this term we have seen many advantages of social media, including Twitter and Facebook. Engaging in conversations around the world, spreading awareness for products and ideas, and of course meeting new people we could have never before contacted all would not have been so possible without the use of social media. However, easy access to such a massive program does have its negatives and I believe it is important for people to be aware that it is not all 'fun and games'.
 

First and most importantly, privacy. The internet is a very large place and we must realize that when we put any information on the web it can be accessed by millions of people. When making a 'tweet' or a post on Facebook we are giving everyone including strangers around the globe a look into our personal lives. When creating accounts on any social media website it is very important to check and adjust your privacy settings  to what you feel is comfortable. Although the internet will never be fully secure you can have some control over what is released to others. The only way to one hundred percent prevent something personal becoming public knowledge is by not sharing it. When using the internet, please proceed with caution.

The other point I wanted to bring up is about when engaging in social media is appropriate. Making a 'tweet' while in a professional setting is not the best time. Also, when listening in on a presentation it is not appropriate to either be looking at your smart phone or laptop to see what is new on Twitter or Facebook. People spend a lot of time and effort preparing for a class presentation and we should give them the attention and respect they deserve.

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/youth/article51740.ece

Social media does have many positive features going for it that cannot be compared. While engaging in this wonderful innovation however, we must do so carefully. By being cautious of our own privacy and using its benefits to our advantage we can be sure to get the best experience possible.

If you have not already, check out Facebook and Twitter and get started in the conversation!

To check out another great ALES204 blog take a look at Laura McSporran's page