Although I signed on to Wikipedia earlier in the semester, this was my first time modifying an entry. It was incredibly easy. I chose to add some information to the site on heavyweight prizefight champion Jack Johnson (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Johnson_%28boxer%29). I was actually impressed at how in-depth the information already was. There was information about his personal life, boxing career, legal troubles, and legacy. Much of the information came from Ken Burns’s Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson. Although I am not always a fan of Ken Burns’s work, I think this documentary is one of his better ones. There is certainly room for improvement in many areas of the entry, but for the most part I thought that it gave a good, brief overview.

Since Wikipedia uses commands and symbols similar to Windows, it is easy to follow. It really isn’t even necessary to read instructions—users can figure things out quickly by trial and error. Just like WordPress, Wikipedia allows you to preview your entry before posting it so you can recognize any errors. I can imagine updating other sites in the future while writing a paper for a class, or just adding a few sentences to give a more inclusive perspective to particular entries.

It was great to explore the Traditions and Cultures of IU site. I found out a lot of information that I did not know about our campus. I can see how students enjoy the course, and especially how useful it is to teach students about traditions. It gives students a common language with which to approach their experience on campus.