Week15- reflexive report-YUJIE 여결

What did I learn while editing Wikipedia?

Editing Wikipedia was a very unique learning experience for me. In the past, I only saw it as a place to search for quick facts, without really thinking about how it works behind the scenes. Through this assignment, I got to approach Wikipedia as someone contributing content, not just consuming it. I realized that anyone can take part in shaping and sharing knowledge. This open and collaborative environment made me rethink what it means to learn and made me more interested in how information is shared with the public.

In order to write a proper article, I spent a lot of time researching, comparing different sources, and checking which information seemed accurate and trustworthy. This helped me improve my research skills and made me more careful about evaluating what I read. I noticed that even small differences between sources could matter, and I had to make thoughtful choices about what to include. 

One major challenge I faced was trying to write in a neutral and objective tone. I’m used to expressing my own opinions when writing, so it was hard at first to leave them out. But Wikipedia has clear guidelines that ask writers to focus only on facts and avoid personal views. This made me reflect on how I write and pushed me to make my language more balanced and clear. Over time, I learned how to explain things in a straightforward way, without sounding too emotional or biased.

Wikipedia also requires a certain structure and style when editing, such as how to cite sources and organize sections. I had to spend time learning the technical side of editing, like using the right formatting and reference tools. It wasn’t always easy, but it helped me understand why shared guidelines are important, especially when many people are working on the same page. These lessons also reminded me to pay more attention to details when working on group projects or academic writing.

How is this assignment different from more traditional student assignments?

Compared to traditional student assignments, editing Wikipedia is a form of writing truly aimed at a global audience. Anyone can access, read, edit, and cite the content. This openness means our writing must have higher accuracy and objectivity, because incorrect information can mislead many readers and be cited by others, causing a broader impact.

Wikipedia’s strict standards require me to verify every piece of information more carefully than before. I cannot rely solely on personal understanding or one-sided sources; instead, I must consult authoritative references and ensure cited information comes from reliable origins. This careful checking of sources is rarely experienced in traditional assignments and is a key principle of public writing. Additionally, Wikipedia stresses neutral language, avoiding personal feelings or subjective views. This helped me keep a calm and objective tone, ensuring facts help readers form their own judgments.

Editing Wikipedia is more than completing a writing task; it is an act of social responsibility. My content may be seen by thousands or millions who depend on it to learn, research, or decide. Therefore, I must take responsibility for the truthfulness and accuracy of my writing. 

In summary, the biggest difference between editing Wikipedia and traditional assignments is that it faces an open, diverse global readership, making accuracy, objectivity, and responsibility essential. Through this task, I improved my skills in verifying information and writing objectively, gaining a deeper understanding of knowledge sharing’s significance. This experience gave me new insight into learning and made me more aware of my responsibility when sharing knowledge publicly.

Is it more fun?

The process of editing Wikipedia is more interesting than traditional assignments because it makes me feel like I am writing for real readers. Writing for a wide audience motivates me to carefully research, verify information, and try to express content clearly and simply. Knowing that my work could help many people gives me a great sense of satisfaction.

Also, Wikipedia is an open platform where others can edit or add to the content I write. This kind of interaction makes writing less lonely. Knowing that my work might be widely shared and used by others for learning gives me a strong sense of responsibility and influence. This makes the whole editing process both fun and challenging, and helps me see learning and writing in a new way.