Can Anyone Edit?

Abstract

Using Ragnedda’s (2018) idea of digital capital, the essay discusses the ways in which Wikipedia-based research projects can help students build their own digital capital as well as bring the university’s capital to bear on the part of an underrepresented community. In this assignment, students work with community members to research and write updates to the Camden, New Jersey Wikipedia article and associated articles.  Far from being “the encyclopedia anyone can edit,” the challenges of writing for Wikipedia lead to rich conversations about power and representation on the largest encyclopedia ever created.