ERIC Number: EJ1007626
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Mar
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0360-1315
EISSN: N/A
Improving Revision in Wiki-Based Writing: Coordination Pays Off
Wichmann, Astrid; Rummel, Nikol
Computers & Education, v62 p262-270 Mar 2013
Wiki-based writing possesses a great deal of educational potential, yet students face difficulties while writing a shared document. Revising a shared document, in particular, seems to be a demanding activity for students. This study investigated whether collaboration scripts can help to improve students' revision activities and overall text quality. We compared scripted (script+) with unscripted (script-) collaboration in a wiki-based writing setting that was adapted for educational purposes. Students from two university courses participated in a one-week collaborative writing activity. Results showed that students in the scripted condition outperformed students in the unscripted condition with respect to revision behavior and text coherence. Furthermore, we found that students' revision behavior correlated positively with text coherence. Results from analyzing students' discussions during the writing activity revealed more frequent coordination with respect to task division and increased communication frequency for students in the scripted condition. Results also indicate that collaboration scripts can foster coordination. Our findings suggest that collaboration scripts are promising means of structuring collaboration during wiki-based writing. (Contains 2 figures and 4 tables.)
Descriptors: Collaborative Writing, Scripts, Web 2.0 Technologies, Educational Technology, Computer Uses in Education, Encyclopedias, Revision (Written Composition), Writing Skills, College Students, Cooperative Learning, Foreign Countries
Elsevier. 3251 Riverport Lane, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. Tel: 800-325-4177; Tel: 314-447-8000; Fax: 314-447-8033; e-mail: JournalCustomerService-usa@elsevier.com; Web site: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2131
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A