Editing Wikipedia

Due today: Audio Storytelling Assignment

Most of us are passive consumers of Wikipedia, but the online encyclopedia is built out of collaborative writing and editing. In fact, according to its own statistics, Wikipedia is developing “at a rate of over 10 edits per second, performed by editors from all over the world.” That being said, accurate and rigorous articles on Indigenous peoples and their works are still very limited. Communities have responded to the poor representation of Indigenous peoples with edit-a-thons, focused sessions dedicated bolstering Indigenous information on Wikipedia.

Over the next two classes, you will learn how to edit a Wikipedia page and, working with a small group, you will contribute your own knowledge of Indigenous new media.

In today’s class, we will be discussing what it means to “indigenize wikipedia” and, with the help of guest lecturer Will Engle, we will learn the Wikipedia fundamentals and prepare for our own edit-a-thon, which will be held next class.

  • You can find a primer on editing Wikipedia here 
  • Here is an article on a previous edit-a-thon with an Indigenous focus

Today’s Reading