Actually, this happens all the time, but it wasn't until I read Weinberger that I could start to name the phenomenon. I'm constantly searching my brain for connections, scanning the tags to bring everything I read, write, see and experience together.
The other Big Idea I've come away with from this reading is that I should reconsider my position on Wikipedia as a research tool. Relying on Wikipedia versus the Encyclopedia Britannica for information isn't an issue of good or bad information; it's an issue of Authority versus Truth. Weinberger writes:
It would seem that Wikipedia does everything in its power to avoid being an
authority, yet that seems only to increase its authority-- a paradox that
indicates an important change in the nature of authority itself. (142)
Bringing this idea to the classroom, it would be an excellent exercise in critical thinking to ask the students to examine some of the discussions that go on with articles and decide if they can trust the articles. Ask the students to evaluate where the authority of an article or book comes from, and is the authority we grant these documents warranted?
On a sort-of side note, this book reminded me of an article I read in School Library Journal on the future of reading, with comments on the future of publishing, a question I saw in several other posts.
I also use wikipedia as a reserch tool in my 102 class. I think it has mereit for a lot of stuff:
ReplyDeleteGetting started, looking at what is out there for your topic,
Lateral research, finding sources through the works cited page.
However, I will never see it as an authority. Sorry, but even though neutraliry has been neatly defined by Wikipedians, it is, in my opinion, biased and therefore wrong. Anything that is edited by opinion is an editorial.
I liked the connection you made to computer tags and out brain tags. I often think I can imagine ny brain as a scanner or old roldex flipping through catalogue cards as fast as it can to find the right word I am looking for or someone's name or an idea that I stored in there somewhere and am trying to recall. You are right, we make brain tags, thousands every day.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that investigating Wikipedia with students would be a great activity, looking at arguments and revisions and considering authority and creating public knowledge bases.
Another idea is to consider as Weinberger states, what topics and subjects get deleted over time from print sources such as Britanica, and how decisions are made about what gets put it. His example was Totems at one time, forced a deletion of Torture.