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Wikipedia writing assignments as a service-learning form of Open Educational Practice (Renewable Assignment)

Design · All designs
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 associational), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description

The article frames the Wikipedia writing assignment—students research a topic and expand or create an article—as an Open Educational Practice that contributes to the public domain, called a Renewable Assignment or Non-Disposable Assessment (Wiley & Hilton, 2018). It aligns with service-learning, and the article lists six key elements of service-learning found within Wikipedia assignments, from "contributing to society" to contributions that "can be easily assessed by the community". This framing underpins educators' motivations, particularly the service-learning aspect that motivated both students and instructors.

Design Implications

Context

Requirements

  • Assignments must be connected to the course's objectives and allow for self-reflection, per the article's six service-learning elements

Constraints

  • The article notes absence of adequate university support and recognition may limit skill development, yielding outcomes comparable to traditional assignments

Target Learners

  • higher education students
  • university and college instructors

Learning Goals

  • research, critical thinking, writing, and source citation skills
  • digital, information, and academic literacies

Claims

Examples

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Key Sources

  • Shani Evenstein Sigalov, Piotr Konieczny. (2025). Writing for the greater good: what do educators think about using Wikipedia as a teaching tool? Education Tech Research Dev. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-025-10505-x
Page metadata
Field Value
type design
id wikipedia-assignment-service-learning-oep
title Wikipedia writing assignments as a service-learning form of Open Educational Practice (Renewable Assignment)
description The article frames the Wikipedia writing assignment—students research a topic and expand or create an article—as an Open Educational Practice that contributes to the public domain, called a Renewable Assignment or Non...
status review
generated by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-29
trust unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content
sources 1 — shani-evenstein-sigalov-2025

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