Understanding borderlands in a global context on Wikipedia
Many of the millions who visit Wikipedia every month are looking for information to understand their current political climate. They may be researching candidates or policies related to upcoming midterm elections. Or they may be looking to understand how our history has shaped present day affairs. Encyclopedias and other accessible knowledge resources (like newspapers) are vital … Continued
Improving equity on Wikipedia in a student-centered assignment
Dr. Carol A. Stabile is Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives in the College of Arts and Sciences and a Professor at the University of Oregon. Last term, she taught with Wikipedia in a course at the University of Maryland, Racialized Gender and Rebel Media. Here, she walks us through her process. This past term, I taught … Continued
Producing knowledge through an intersectional lens
Intersectionality is Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw’s theory that attempts to understand how institutions shape our social statuses and experiences, and it’s central to academic disciplines like women’s studies. National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA) Wikipedia Fellow Dr. Jenn Brandt worked this spring to improve the women’s studies Wikipedia article and define the discipline for the broader public. She summarized it as “an academic … Continued
Learning from the past to design the future
Eryk Salvaggio, known as User:Owlsmcgee on Wikipedia, is Brown University’s Visiting Scholar. Thanks to this sponsorship by the John Nicholas Brown Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage, Eryk has remote access to academic sources to help him improve articles. Here, he reflects on one particular article that was made possible by this Visiting Scholars connection. “Lol, … Continued
Brown University’s Visiting Scholar expands Wikipedia article about “Joan of Arc” of Syria
Wiki Education’s Visiting Scholars program connects experienced Wikipedians with academic institutions looking to expand the impact of their library collections. The Wikipedian is given remote access to these collections and then improves Wikipedia articles of interest to both parties. Brown University’s Center for Public Humanities and Cultural Heritage was drawn to the program for the opportunity to … Continued
Visiting Scholar improves Wikipedia’s coverage of disability-related topics
Dr. Jackie Koerner is a Visiting Scholar partnered with San Francisco State University’s Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability. The Visiting Scholars program connects experienced Wikipedia editors, like Jackie, with access to academic sources. The partnering university thus expands the reach of their collections, and a Wikipedian is better equipped to continue spreading free knowledge. Jackie created … Continued
Visiting Scholar is representing African artists and activists on Wikipedia
User:Czar is a Visiting Scholar hosted by the Smithsonian Libraries and the National Museum of African Art. That means he has access to high-quality, academic sources to improve a variety of topics on Wikipedia related to African art. On English Wikipedia, subjects from outside the English-speaking world are often underrepresented. These gaps exist due to a variety of factors … Continued
New resources for students in cultural anthropology and LGBT+ studies courses
Wiki Education’s Classroom Program exists to create a bridge between academia and Wikipedia. Our systems of support are ever-evolving to fit the needs of the growing number of students and staff we help, meaning we continually improve resources and create new ones in response to feedback from program participants. We’re excited to announce two new … Continued
A librarian’s perspective on why academics should be improving Wikipedia
Michelle Gohr is First Year Experience Librarian at Arizona State University. As a member of the National Women’s Studies Association, she participated in our recent Wikipedia Fellows pilot and now reflects on what this experience has meant to her. Going into the Wikipedia Fellows pilot program I was already a supporter and user of Wikipedia, both in … Continued
Why this Wikipedian believes in sharing knowledge freely
Dr. Jackie Koerner is a Visiting Scholar partnered with San Francisco State University’s Paul K. Longmore Institute on Disability. The Visiting Scholars program connects experienced Wikipedia editors, like Jackie, with access to academic sources. The partnering university thus expands the reach of their collections, and a Wikipedian is better equipped to continue spreading knowledge. More than a … Continued