Week4——Collective Intelligence in Practice--SHAO TIANYI

 Today I want to share something different—not just about reading Wikipedia, but about editing it. Yes, you heard right. I actually became one of those people who write and update Wikipedia articles. And honestly? It changed the way I see the world.

At first, I thought editing Wikipedia sounded super serious, like something only experts or computer geniuses could do. But it turns out, if you care about facts and are willing to double-check your sources, you’re welcome to join in. Wikipedia is like a big group project that never ends—only this one is actually interesting!

One of the coolest things I discovered is how much we don’t know until we try to explain something clearly. When I wrote about topics like social movements, historical events, or cultural customs, I realized how important it is to verifyinformation and explain it in simple terms. I wasn’t just learning facts—I was learning how to communicate better.

I also noticed how many stories were missing. Some regions, people, or ideas just didn’t have much coverage. So I started small—translating a paragraph, adding a sentence, fixing a broken link. But even those tiny edits felt meaningful. I was helping more people access knowledge that deserved to be seen.

Editing Wikipedia even made me more thoughtful when I read things online. I began asking questions like: “Where did this info come from?” “Is it biased?” “Can I check this elsewhere?” It’s like I developed an invisible radar for truth. That’s pretty useful when you’re doing homework or just scrolling on social media.

Sometimes it’s a little frustrating—your edits might get removed or corrected. But that’s part of the process. Wikipedia isn’t perfect, but it tries to be fair. And being part of that effort made me feel like I wasn’t just using the internet—I was helping build a better one.

So if you’ve ever used Wikipedia (and I bet you have!), why not try editing it too? You don’t need to be an expert. You just need curiosity, care, and the courage to start. Trust me—it’s more fun than it sounds.

Let’s not just be readers. Let’s be builders.

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