Wikipedia-editing as a teaching strategy in health professional schools: 6 years, 5 countries, 5 professions...and counting.

Abstract

● Wikipedia is the world’s most frequently used health-information source. ● Embracing the platform helps fulfill health professional schools’ teaching & service missions. ● Student & faculty effort searching, analyzing, writing & editing Wikipedia is scholarly work. ● The Wiki Education Foundation’s “Students in the Health Professions” campaign aggregates all efforts of these students editing WIkipedia as part of formal coursework. ● Since 2013, there have been 1,271 students who have added 711,000 words, 86 images and 9,030 references to 642 health-related Wikipedia pages. ● These Wikipedia pages have been viewed 55.2 million times since students began contributing. ● Participants highlight the refreshingly collaborative nature of the work-- for students, librarians, and faculty alike!