How often do you land on Wikipedia during a quick search, curious detour, or a fact-check mid-conversation? The free encyclopedia continues to be one of the most visited websites around the globe, yet its coverage of topics like U.S. history is riddled with inaccuracies, outdated information, and significant gaps.
It’s also well-known now that the information on Wikipedia doesn’t just directly inform readers. It serves as a foundational training source for artificial intelligence systems, including large language models, that millions of people turn to for answers. Errors and gaps on Wikipedia get absorbed into these systems, then repeated and amplified through AI tools.
That makes efforts to strengthen Wikipedia’s content more critical now than ever.
To help tackle the improvements needed across Wikipedia’s coverage of U.S. history, Wiki Education has launched “Documenting America”, a new initiative built to empower experts to bring their knowledge and collections directly to Wikipedia.
When scholars, historians, and cultural institution staff review and contribute to information on Wikipedia, articles become grounded in the best available research, drawing on collections and materials that may have previously existed only offline in museums, archives, and libraries.
As part of the Documenting America initiative, Wiki Education will run a series of Zoom-based, synchronous editing courses focused on improving Wikipedia’s general U.S. history coverage. Key areas of focus include state history, civics, democracy, and information related to the 2026 midterm elections.
Interested in learning more and joining us? Visit learn.wikiedu.org to explore our upcoming course offerings!
