Disseminating accurate and accessible information to diverse audiences is an important role for professionals in many fields. A challenge for students is to develop critical thinking skills and evaluate the quality of information in popular online sources.

Staff from Charles Sturt University and La Trobe University partnered with Wikimedia Australia to develop an active learning exercise analysing the readability, accuracy and authorship of Wikipedia articles and generative AI tools, within a context of science communication.

Join us on Zoom to look at the results from the assessment trialled in Semester 1, and then collaborate in the design of active learning exercises and assessments related to subjects/courses that you teach.

This workshop is hosted by Wikimedia Australia with presenters:

Dr Katelyn Mroczek, Lecturer in Microbiology, La Trobe University
Dr Thiru Vanniasinkam, Associate Professor and Program (Course) Director, Charles Sturt University
Dr Brian McSharry, Lecturer in Virology, Charles Sturt University
Belinda Spry and Pru Mitchell from Wikimedia Australia.

The workshop will:

Provide the opportunity for participants to collaboratively develop authentic active learning exercises that enhance students’ communication skills
Discuss benefits of analysing Wikipedia and Gen AI to support students’ learning of communication skills
Support participants to develop assessment for the activity they design (including rubrics)
Raise awareness of support available from Wikimedia Australia

After completing this workshop participants should be able to:

Promote written and/or oral communication skills and collaborative learning in their teaching through the design of active learning exercises and assessments using Wikipedia

Contact the host of Wikipedia to enhance student communication skills