Issue
Wikipedia is a "free encyclopedia that anyone can edit". It has at least 684 million visitors per year, 75,000 authors and almost 2.5 million article in English. (More at About Wikipedia.) A Google search for "Wikipedia" produces 296 million results.
I assert ...
- that the Wikipedia (WP) articles on "career development" and "career" are insufficient (WP considers the CD article a "stub article") and that either one or both should be a Wikipedia:Portal similar to the Education Portal,
- that there may be other career-related WP articles (216k = "career") that are insufficient,
- and that there may be many career-related articles that need to be written for WP.
I do not have sufficient knowledge of CD or of the Wikipedia policies and guidelines to work on these articles, but I am interested in organizing those who are or might be via a Wikipedia:WikiProject.
Actions I have taken so far (as of 7/15/08)
- A year ago, I told Darrell that I had a project idea for the Leadership Academy. I felt the Wikipedia article for “career development” was quite anemic and needed significant development. He said he would present it to them. I did not follow up and I have not heard of any responses.
- At this year's conference
- I talked to Debbie Osborn about this and she liked the idea (for herself). I don't know what she plans to do about it.
- I asked Melanie what she thought. She recommended a CC article.
- I asked Rich Fellar. He suggested a draft proposal to the Board (but I'm not sure what to propose.
- I talked to Ed and he said he would talk to Deneen.
Proposal
I propose that ...
- based upon Melanie's suggestion, that I write a Career Convergence article about this topic (it will describe the situation and encourage readers to express their interest by going to my Wikipedia account and adding links to their accounts where they list those articles that they will co-author. age joining this CD Forum topic to support each other in learning about the Wikipedia culture and the policies and guidelines for creating Wikipedia articles),
- and periodically ask Melanie to run an e-blast that links to this article to attract future Wikipedia CD authors
Below are some ideas for the CC article (Title, Abstract, body)
CC article title: “Wanted: CD authors to write and manage Wikipedia articles about career/career development topics.
Abstract: Imagine that you just wrote an article about “career development” (CD) for a notable encyclopedia publisher. Think about your content; particularly references to other relevant CD articles in the encyclopedia. Now, compare your article with the current one in Wikipedia. I think you will agree with me that the Wikipedia article needs a lot of attention. If you have ever thought of writing an article for Wikipedia, and you are willing to spend the time and energy needed to maintain and develop this and perhaps other related articles, we hope you will read this article and join other Wikipedia CD authors.
What is Wikipedia and Caveat emptor?
Wikipedia is a "free encyclopedia that anyone can edit"1. Wikipedia cautions2 readers against relying on its articles as a primary resource. Notable strengths and weaknesses are cited in this article "Researching with Wikipedia". Notwithstanding the criticism, Wikipedia has at least 684 million visitors per year, 75,000 authors and almost 2.5 million articles in Englilsh.
A Google search for "Wikipedia" produces 296 million results. Any student with access to a computer has read at least one Wikipedia article, and if it was the article on "career development", they were probbaly very disappointed.
If no one signs up, NCDA should consider an award or reward.
The purpose of this article
If you do an Internet seach for "career development", the first result you will see is the Wikipedia article. Take a moment to review it and ask yourself if this is the best we - the national association of career development professionals - can offer to the world. The article was created in 2003 and has remained essentially unchanged even after 300 edit attempts by 20+ authors as chronicled in this "history" page for the article.
These "edit attempts" exemplify the problem that I want to address. Wikipedia has high standards. And since anyone can edit an article, management can become a time consuming annoyance.
I would even go so far as to declare that the Wikipedia "career development" should be a Wikipedia Portal which will require even more work and attention by the authors.. . . errwhat you would want your you think this is the best that of more and more people. It's embarassing to me to see this very meager article languishing there almost unchanged since it was started May 18, 2003. There is so much that we - the career industry - can add to it. And there are hundreds of related article that could also be written and spun off of this main page.
We need someone to volunteer to learn the Wikipedia submission and editing rules, to maintain that article and related articles, and act as a funnel so that people like you and I can feed them with additonal content.
Good article - http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2007/01/26/wiki
If you agree that career professionals need to (co-)author career related Wikipedia articles ...
It is possible that some of the authors of the "career deveopment" article are career professionals, but I have my doubts. This version of the article has a warning that it is cosnidered a "stub article" which means that Wikipedia authorities feel that it needs considerable more work. (See the evolution of an article.)
If you have an interest in becoming a Wikipedia author ...
and learning WP policies and guidelines, the a WP article on conrtributing to WP, and understanding the evolution of an article.
If you have the time and the patience to manage Wikipedia articles ...
Then join a cadre of other Wikipedia CD authors ...
The current cd article is what W calls a stub which means … It only mentions OD and does not provide linkages to other key articles about cd.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About#Contributing_to_Wikipedia
What if I need help?
W has policies and is baleeskill set iniwill see Although Since 2003, the W article on “career development” has remained wanting.
relat
Wikipedia was accessed more than 680 million times last year.is
Wikipedia culture, policy, ecology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:List_of_guidelines
Vandalism and Vigilance
e-blast: If you like to write about career development topics and you like the concept of Wikipedia, please read this CC article and consider joining and you would like to write, ConIf you thiknl
Where can we congregate to share?
CD Forums
LWPS community blog
Yahoo Group
A different blogging platform
Here is I'm looking at the Wikipedia history page for the "Career Development" article and notice an addition made by Janet Lenz [1].
The Wikipedia CD Authors Association (WCDAA)
Information about Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:About#Contributing_to_Wikipedia
1More at About Wikipedia. ()
2"Wikipedia can be a great tool for learning and researching information. However, as with all sources, not everything in Wikipedia is accurate, comprehensive, or unbiased." (Downloaded 7/21/08)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Researching_with_Wikipedia#Notable_strengths_of_Wikipedia
Summary
Google Alerts are an excellent tool for you and your clients to use to automate repetitive searches that will keep you aware of the latest web-based news and information.
Alerts are easy to create, modify and delete.
Create an Alert for your name and anything else that is a long term interest.
References
Hubbard, P. (2007). Creating, Shaping and Managing your Internet Presence, National Career Development Association Website. Retrieved on May 24, 2008.
Bio
Pete Hubbard is the Founder of LifeWork Planning Services, and CD Forums (formerly NCDA Forums), member of three NCDA committees, Chair of the ACSCI Public Relations committee, and (co-)author of two other Career Convergence articles. Pete received the 2005 NCDA Presidential Recognition Award for his work on NCDA Forums. More info is available at http://lifeworkps.com/hubbard/weblog/3530.html or by emailing Pete at hubbard@waypt.com
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