Week15 - KIM JUHEE (김주희) : reflexive report

 While editing Wikipedia, I learned many things. At first, I thought it was just about editing articles in an encyclopedia, but as I participated, I realized how deep and complex the process was. I learned many technical things like setting categories, uploading images, writing articles, and citing sources. However, the biggest lessons I learned were about "the accuracy of information" and "the responsibility of editing." Wikipedia is a platform where users can freely contribute, and because of this, wrong information or biased content can easily spread. I realized how much impact the content I contribute can have on others, so I always had to be mindful of that. Because of this, I focused on clearly citing sources, avoiding biased perspectives, and writing in a neutral tone. At first, this was a bit difficult, but over time, I became more careful about handling the sources of articles and learned how to reflect different viewpoints.

Moreover, editing Wikipedia made me realize the importance of collaboration. While editing articles, I had the chance to read discussion pages and edit histories left by other users, where I could share opinions and give/receive feedback. This taught me how to respect other people's opinions and how to accept constructive criticism. At first, when others commented on my edits, I felt defensive, but as time went by, I became more open to their suggestions, and I learned how to improve my edits in a better direction.

However, there were also some reflective aspects to my experience editing Wikipedia. At the beginning, I struggled with time management. Since I had many school assignments and other things to do, I couldn’t dedicate enough time to editing Wikipedia and sometimes I rushed through it. I was more focused on quickly editing rather than deeply researching a topic. As a result, some of the articles I worked on ended up only covering the surface-level information, and I realized that they needed more sources and additional content. This was something I reflected on. However, through that experience, I gradually learned how to manage my time more efficiently, and I became more careful and thoughtful when dealing with articles.

One of the main differences between editing Wikipedia and traditional student assignments is the freedom and collaboration involved. Traditional assignments usually require us to research and write about a given topic on our own, while editing Wikipedia is more of a collective process. The way other people can comment on what I wrote and how the article improves based on those discussions was very new and exciting to me. Moreover, because Wikipedia aims to provide accurate information, I felt a sense of social responsibility knowing that the content I contributed could actually help someone.

While traditional assignments often focus on grades or evaluations, editing Wikipedia made me think more about how much my contribution can impact a wider community. Self-satisfaction and community development became important motivations for me. During this process, I naturally improved my writing skills, and I also felt that my critical thinking and problem-solving abilities grew stronger.

In conclusion, editing Wikipedia was more than just a task; it was a valuable opportunity to learn responsibility and collaboration. Traditional assignments often focus on an individual’s abilities, but Wikipedia emphasizes working together with others and ensuring that accurate information is communicated. This experience was meaningful for me. Based on this experience, I will continue to work on writing better articles and try to positively influence others' edits as well.