- The document discusses a medical genetics course where students created Wikipedia entries on cancer genes as part of their coursework. - 35 advanced undergraduate students took the course, which included lectures, exams, paper summaries, and developing a cancer gene report using the MediaWiki software. - 6 student reports were posted to Wikipedia for extra credit, and the creator of the gene pages provided feedback on improving the assignment for next year.

1. Wiki-based Gene Reports in Medical Genetics 421 Documenting the cancer genes…

2. Medical Genetics 421 35 advanced undergraduate students Most destined for graduate school in life sciences or medical school High demand for long awaited return of course led to student population with history of high performance Essentially an honours class Students were uniformly aware of Wikipedia, but very few (~2) had previously contributed to an entry

3. Course Format Lecture-based Classical – sit, listen and ask questions 50% of lectures by “guest” specialists Marks 50% non-comprehensive exams (2) 25% paper summaries (10) 1 page summaries of primary scientific literature 25% cancer gene report developed in MediaWiki Extra credit for top reports if posted to Wikipedia 6 of 35 reports were posted for credit; +1 voluntary

4. MediaWiki Training Critical to introduce the MediaWiki software to the students Sample for key formats given http://burgundy.cmmt.ubc.ca/medg421/wiki/index.php/User:Jlim Dedicated 45 minute tutorial early in the term Walked the students through creation of a page http://burgundy.cmmt.ubc.ca/medg421/wiki/index.php/Medg421:Protected_page

5. Medg421 Wikipedia Gene Reports Course wiki http://burgundy.cmmt.ubc.ca/medg421/wiki/index.php/Category:Genes Wikipedia Postings (extra credit) Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deleted_in_Colorectal_CancerGENE Deleted in Liver Cancer 1 (DLC1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DLC1 Survivin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivin Ecotropic viral integration site 1 (EVI1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EVI1 H19 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H19_%28gene%29 Secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secreted_frizzled-related_protein_1 Image from the Cancer Genome Anatomy Project. http://cgap.nci.nih.gov/Pathways/BioCarta/h_egfPathway

6. Unexpected Connection Creator of the “gene” pages watches all changes on all human gene entries Contacted me and made suggestions for next year Taught me about existing user groups interested in gene pages Pointed me to Jon Beasley-Murray as an active proponent of using Wikipedia in the classroom Suggested that I consider using Citizendium as an alternative to Wikipedia

7. Observations Students expressed surprising enthusiasm for the project Many students put in far greater effort than required for a good mark Provided continuity with the wide range of cancer processes addressed in class The relationship of ‘their gene’ to the theme of the week kept the students engaged

8. Observations (2) Difficult to grade Long entries Content vs utility Exposes lack of understanding Suggest limiting such an assignment to classes of <30 students

9. Next Year Word Limits! The student really got into it, but they did not revise text for clarity Plagiarism tutorial Some students seemed to think that the wiki-format was open license to copy text without attribution More explicit requirements Incorporating more hyperlinks Create a summary figure Gene selection undetermined Make students work on genes not covered previously? Allow them to improve existing entries?