Developing health content for millions: how to edit Wikipedia

In this course, we begin by giving background on basic Wikipedia policies (Module 1), followed by describing how to edit Wikipedia as a health professional student (Module 2). In Module 3, we explore different strategies you can use to select article(s) to improve. Then Module 4 coaches you through making your first edits, and Module 5 addresses tips on contributing significant effort to Wikipedia, including adding visual assets. Finally, in Module 6, we consider how to contribute to controversial topics, as well as the concept of peer-review -- noting generally how that applies to Wikipedia-writing, as well as specifically in this asynchronous online course.

We include quizzes because testing and feedback improve learning, although these are only meant for your benefit. We also provide references and resources for further learning.

Throughout the course we ask that you share comments so that others in the course can learn from you. You are welcome to stop back any time to read what others have written and respond to comments on your posts.


Your Instructor


Amin Azzam
Amin Azzam

Amin Azzam is a professor at 3 San Francisco bay area universities: 1) University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, 2) University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, and 3) Samuel Merritt University. He has dedicated his career to innovations in health professional schools, including Problem Based Learning (PBL), Simulation Based Learning (SBL), and Open Educational Pedagogy (OEP). He remains clinically active—running long-term psychotherapy groups for patients with chronic illnesses. He lives in Oakland with his wife (June) and children (Remy and Margo). They enjoy camping, board games, and international travel. Dr. Azzam’s research interests include exploring the efficacy of various instructional approaches in stimulating health-professional students’ acquisition, retention, and application of content knowledge in their evolving roles as clinicians.


Course Curriculum


  Welcome and Introductions
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  Module 1: Basic Wikipedia Knowledge
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  Module 2: Editing Wikipedia as a health-professional student
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  Module 3: Choosing articles to improve
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  Module 4: Beginning your editing process
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  Module 5: Significant & visual contributions
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  Module 6: Controversial Topics & Peer-review
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  End course materials & invitation to participate in research study of course
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  Feedback & Certificate of Completion
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Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

Get started now!