Wikipedia:Wiki Ed/Rice University/The Archaeology of Africa (Spring 2023)

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Course name
The Archaeology of Africa
Institution
Rice University
Instructor
Mary Prendergast
Wikipedia Expert
Ian (Wiki Ed)
Subject
Anthropology
Course dates
2023-01-10 00:00:00 UTC – 2023-05-06 23:59:59 UTC
Approximate number of student editors
22


This course provides an introduction to the rich past of Africa as seen through the archaeological record, including the earliest origins and development of our species, the development of innovative economies and technologies, the rise of cities and kingdoms, and African connections to the world and the development of an African diaspora, primarily through the trafficking of enslaved people. Students will be asked to choose a topic early in the semester to research and outline over the course of the term. The final product will be either a Wikipedia article written from scratch, or an existing article that has been substantially expanded upon and improved through student work. Students will be encouraged to choose topics on people (scholars or historical figures), places (archaeological sites), or problems (topics) currently underrepresented in African archaeology and will be provided with a list of suggestions.

Student Assigned Reviewing
Sylvie Wav Kakapel Rockshelter Prospect Farm, Kenya, Lothagam North Pillar Site
Nickhe1131 Songo Mnara, Mtwapa, Manda, Kilwa Kisiwani Enkapune Ya Muto, Ostrich eggshell beads
Icranth Kalundu Mound Kisalian Graves, Dembéni
PabloAlarcon17 Dhar Tichitt Zilum, Dia, Mali
BavanR00 Kapthurin Formation Florisbad archaeological and paleontological site, Enkapune Ya Muto
Mbug333 Lothagam North Pillar Site Kaya (Mijikenda), Kakapel Rockshelter
Mjbergner Kaya (Mijikenda) Lothagam North Pillar Site, Prospect Farm, Kenya
Ginokafor Archaeology of Nsukka Archaeology of Lejja, Begho
FleetwoodMe Florisbad archaeological and paleontological site Kapthurin Formation, Songo Mnara, Mtwapa, Manda, Kilwa Kisiwani
Yoonseo Cho Dia, Mali Dhar Tichitt, Gao-Saney
Phoebe2030 Gao-Saney Zilum, Dia, Mali
Emc231415 Enkapune Ya Muto Ostrich eggshell beads, Florisbad archaeological and paleontological site
Bjj5rice Ostrich eggshell beads Kapthurin Formation, Mtwapa, Manda, Kilwa Kisiwani, Songo Mnara
Evanjoachim Zilum Gao-Saney, Dhar Tichitt
NikoleM312 Kisalian Graves Kalundu Mound, Mifsas Bahri
Camiwill06 Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso Begho, Archaeology of Lejja
Emnet.a Mifsas Bahri Dembéni, Kisalian Graves
Slimothy02 Begho Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso, Archaeology of Nsukka
Arinzenna Archaeology of Lejja Archaeology of Nsukka, Ancient Ferrous Metallurgy Sites of Burkina Faso
Zbanth312 Prospect Farm, Kenya Kakapel Rockshelter, Kaya (Mijikenda)
Brendansoloughlin Dembéni Mifsas Bahri, Kalundu Mound

Timeline

Week 1

Course meetings
Wednesday, 11 January 2023
In class - Introduction to the Wikipedia assignment

Welcome to your Wikipedia assignment's course timeline. This page guides you through the steps you'll need to complete for your Wikipedia assignment, with links to training modules and your classmates' work spaces.

Your course has been assigned a Wikipedia Expert. You can reach them through the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resources:

Assignment - Create a Wikipedia account and join our course (link on Canvas)
Assignment - Read Grillo & Contreras - Public archaeology's mammoth in the room (canvas)

Week 2

Course meetings
Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Assignment - Get started on Wikipedia

Create an account and join this course page, using the enrollment link your instructor sent you. (Because of Wikipedia's technical restraints, you may receive a message that you cannot create an account. To resolve this, please try again off campus or the next day.)

Week 3

Course meetings
Monday, 23 January 2023   |   Wednesday, 25 January 2023
Sources & plagiarism (video on Canvas)
What's a content gap? (Video on Canvas)

Week 4

Course meetings
Monday, 30 January 2023   |   Wednesday, 1 February 2023
Assignment - Evaluate Wikipedia
Assignment - Add to an article

Week 5

Course meetings
Monday, 6 February 2023   |   Wednesday, 8 February 2023
In class - Brainstorm topic ideas (in class)

See Canvas for link to ideas list

In class - Group editing exercise (in class)

See Canvas for instructions

Week 6

Course meetings
Monday, 13 February 2023   |   Wednesday, 15 February 2023

Week 7

Course meetings
Monday, 20 February 2023   |   Wednesday, 22 February 2023
Assignment - Choose your article - via CANVAS, not this dashboard

Please use the Assignment area in Canvas to submit your ranked list of 3 topics. Do not attempt to do so via the Dashboard in Wikipedia.

Week 8

Course meetings
Monday, 27 February 2023   |   Wednesday, 1 March 2023
Assignment - Develop your source list

Week 9

Course meetings
Monday, 6 March 2023   |   Wednesday, 8 March 2023
Assignment - Start drafting your contributions

Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have questions using the Get Help button at the top of this page.

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, pages 7–9

Guide(s) for writing articles in your topic area

Art History

Biographies

Cultural Anthropology

History

Science Communication

Milestones

Everyone has begun writing their article drafts.

Week 10

Course meetings
Monday, 20 March 2023   |   Wednesday, 22 March 2023
Assignment - Continue drafting your contributions

Week 11

Course meetings
Monday, 27 March 2023   |   Wednesday, 29 March 2023
Assignment - Begin moving your work to Wikipedia

Now that you've improved your draft based on others' feedback, it's time to move your work live - to the "mainspace."

Resource: Editing Wikipedia, page 13

Assignment - Learn about peer review

Week 12

Course meetings
Monday, 3 April 2023   |   Wednesday, 5 April 2023
Assignment - Peer review two articles (rubric on Canvas; workshop during class)

Guiding framework

Week 13

Course meetings
Monday, 10 April 2023   |   Wednesday, 12 April 2023
Assignment - Respond to your peer review

You probably have some feedback from other students and possibly other Wikipedians. Consider their suggestions, decide whether it makes your work more accurate and complete, and edit your draft to make those changes.

Resources:

  • Editing Wikipedia, pages 12 and 14
  • Reach out to your Wikipedia Expert if you have any questions.
Assignment - Continue improving your article

Now's the time to revisit your text and refine your work. You may do more research and find missing information; rewrite the lead section to represent all major points; reorganize the text to communicate the information better; or add images and other media.

Reflection - Thinking about Wikipedia

Check out these questions as inspiration for your lightning talk

Week 14

Course meetings
Monday, 17 April 2023   |   Wednesday, 19 April 2023
Assignment - Lightning talk
present your Wikipedia essay & experience
Assignment - Final article

It's the final week to develop your article.

  • Read Editing Wikipedia page 15 to review a final check-list before completing your assignment.
  • Don't forget that you can ask for help from your Wikipedia Expert at any time!