Wikipedia Vs. Textbooks Argument

In my elementary and middle school years of schooling I was raised with the old school version of teaching. We used books with a piece of paper and a pencil. Over time technology has progressed and has become very useful when learning. Wikipedia is a more beneficial and informative way for students to learn in schools. Three of the many reasons Wikipedia is a better source for students to learn from are because Wikipedia offers more information, teachers have the opportunity to relate subjects to their students' lives, and Wikipedia is a very reliable source.
In an article titled, "A Textbook Example of What's Wrong with Education," it is written, "most of these books fall far short of their important role in the educational scheme of things." A book source just seems to touch the surface of an event while Wikipedia sources go in depth. On Wikipedia there are hyperlinks that the reader can click on if they want to learn more about a topic or if there is something that they don't know about while in the book the reader doesn't have as many options.

There are so many different styles that teachers could use without using a textbook. According to an article titled, "No Books, No Problem: Teaching Without a Text," a teacher discusses his approach to teaching without a textbook. He writes, "Without a textbook, I can create curriculum that engages students by relating science to their everyday lives. Lessons become clearer when I link the topic to an issue that affects them personally." I think that this is a great way to teach. The students will remember the topic because the teacher connected it to something that they have went through or understand in life. 

Another reason why teachers should use Wikipedia to teach instead of using a textbook is because Wikipedia is very reliable. Noam Cohen includes in his article titled, "Wikipedia Emerges as Trusted Internet Source for Ebola Information," why Wikipedia is a reliable source. He informs his readers, "Only registered Wikipedia editors with at least some experience are permitted to edit the page." He also writes, "much of Wikipedia is not edited by just “anyone.”"

In conclusion, Wikipedia is a better resource for teachers to use. There are so many additional resources for viewers to use when reading an article on Wikipedia. The opportunities are endless for teachers and students when using Wikipedia to learn about topics.

I really like this picture because it symbolizes that you can incorporate learning by using the internet. 

The information I used was found from these three sources:

A Textbook Example of What's wrong with Education
No Books, No Problem: Teaching Without a Text
Wikipedia Emerges as Trusted Internet Source for Ebola Information
Online Education Virtues