Wikipedia just keeps getting better and better. When it was new I didn’t recommend that students use it for research but I sure do now. Students should always be taught to use the most reliable and credible sources for research but Wikipedia is a great place to start and check links.

Wikipedia’s page ratings also have a thing or two in common with our K-12 Ontario Curriculum. Check out how they match below:

Wikipedia Page Ratings

1. Trustworthy

Do you feel this page has sufficient citations and that those citations come from trustworthy sources?

1 Lacks reputable sources

2 few reputable sources

3 adequate reputable sources

4 good reputable sources

5 great reputable sources

This Wikipedia Page Rating matches reading expectation 1.4, 1.7 and 1.8 from the  Ontario Language Curriculum. Students must understand that an encyclopedia entry is supported by multiple facts that are drawn from reputable sources.

2. Trustworthy

Do you feel that this page shows a fair representation of all perspectives on the issue?

1 heavily biased

2 moderate bias

3 minimal bias

4 no obvious bias

5 completely unbiased

This Wikipedia Page Rating matches reading expectation 1.8 and writing expectation 2.5  from the  Ontario Language Curriculum. Students must understand  that an encyclopedia entry should be a factual and without bias so as to present a reliable account.

3. Complete

Do you feel that this page covers the essential topic areas that it should?

1 missing most information

2 misses some information

3 contains key information but with gaps

4 contains most key information

6 comprehensive coverage

This Wikipedia Page Rating matches reading expectation 1.4, 1.5 and 1.8 and writing expectation 1.2 and 1.5  from the  Ontario Language Curriculum. Students must understand  that an encyclopedia entry should be an example of a first-rate summary.

 4. Well-Written

Do you feel this page is well organized and well written?

1 incomprehensible

2 difficult to understand

3 adequate clarity

4 good clarity

5 exceptional clarity

This Wikipedia Page Rating matches reading expectation 1.8 and writing expectation 1.2 and 1.5  from the  Ontario Language Curriculum. Students must understand  that an encyclopedia entry should have ideas that are clearly developed and organized.