BUFFALO, NY – In an innovative approach to political science education, Canisius University students are becoming Wikipedia contributors, challenging traditional perceptions of the online encyclopedia while amplifying underrepresented perspectives. Professor Shyam Sriram's course PSC 335 "Political Parties" is reshaping how students engage with public knowledge and guiding them to become active participants in the creation of information while also learning how to find and cite academic resources.
"Many professors, myself included, previously dismissed Wikipedia," says Sriram, who completed Wikipedia editing training in fall 2023 and later developed the course module that turns students into active knowledge contributors. "Now we understand the rigorous verification process behind each article and the potential to introduce diverse voices."
Political science major Tariq LeFever ’25 is a testament to the course’s impact. He enhanced a Wikipedia article on felony disenfranchisement in the United States, adding more than 1,100 words that highlight racial and socio-economic disparities. LeFever focused on providing historical context about voting rights, adding details about state-specific reform efforts and the disproportionate impact on communities of color. His learning experience was published on the Wiki Edu blog.
"Wikipedia's reach makes it a powerful tool for democratizing knowledge and amplifying underrepresented perspectives," LeFever explains. "This assignment felt more impactful because it allowed me to engage with real-world audiences and make a tangible contribution to public discourse.”
The course’s comprehensive rubric requires students to:
• Register a Wikipedia account
• Complete extensive training modules
• Select and improve a specific article
• Incorporate academic sources
• Reflect on their editing process
“The biggest contribution we hope to make is introducing new voices to Wikipedia,” Sriram notes. “Students are not just learning research skills but actively participating in public discourse, transforming an educational assignment into a meaningful contribution to global knowledge. Reflection is also a key feature of Ignatian pedagogy.”
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
