ERIC Number: EJ849346
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1449-5554
EISSN: N/A
The Effects of Using a Wiki on Student Engagement and Learning of Report Writing Skills in a University Statistics Course
Neumann, David L.; Hood, Michelle
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, v25 n3 p382-398 2009
A wiki was used as part of a blended learning approach to promote collaborative learning among students in a first year university statistics class. One group of students analysed a data set and communicated the results by jointly writing a practice report using a wiki. A second group analysed the same data but communicated the results in a practice report that they wrote individually. Both groups were taught the same material. The report was used for practice as a way to support student learning and was not submitted for assessment. Both approaches improved report writing knowledge and did not differ in the mark obtained on an individually written research report subsequently submitted for assessment. The wiki approach produced higher engagement with other students, cognitive engagement, and class attendance than the individual approach. Qualitative feedback suggested some drawbacks to using a wiki. Overall participation was also low with only 2 of the 22 wiki subgroups completing all components of the practice report. The present findings suggest that student engagement, but not performance on assessment, may be enhanced when a wiki is used to support learning in higher education. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Feedback (Response), Technical Writing, Writing Skills, Learner Engagement, Statistics, Mathematics Instruction, Introductory Courses, Cooperative Learning, Research Reports, Instructional Effectiveness, Educational Technology, Technology Integration, Computer Uses in Education, Web Sites, Electronic Publishing, Access to Computers, Teaching Methods, College Instruction, College Students, Foreign Countries, Blended Learning, Content Area Writing
Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education. Ascilite Secretariat, P.O. Box 44, Figtree, NSW, Australia. Tel: +61-8-9367-1133; e-mail: info@ascilite.org.au; Web site: http://www.ascilite.org.au/ajet
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A