ERIC Number: EJ1119369
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Dec
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0266-4909
EISSN: N/A
Scaffolding Wiki-Supported Collaborative Learning for Small-Group Projects and Whole-Class Collaborative Knowledge Building
Lin, C-Y.; Reigeluth, C. M.
Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, v32 n6 p529-547 Dec 2016
While educators value wikis' potential, wikis may fail to support collaborative constructive learning without careful scaffolding. This article proposes literature-based instructional methods, revised based on two expert instructors' input, presents the collected empirical evidence on the effects of these methods and proposes directions for future refinements. The instructional methods were implemented by an expert instructor teaching a 12-week 68-student undergraduate design class in Canada. Data were collected from observations, interviews and content analysis of wikis. The findings revealed that in small-group project (SGP), the wiki instructional methods enhanced collaborative learning with most instructional methods derived from cooperative learning, but in whole-class collaborative knowledge building (CKB), the wiki instructional methods failed to turn the class into a self-sustained learning community after the scaffolding faded. We conclude that the genre of wikis should be different for SGP and CKB. While the students easily adopted the "reproduced" genre of wikis for SGP with familiar tasks, they felt overwhelmed or resistant to the unfamiliar "emergent" genre of wikis for CKB in massive collaborative constructive learning. Therefore, we propose that future refinements for wiki-supported CKB should focus on providing students scaffolding for intersubjectivity (understanding collaborative constructive learning) and transfer of responsibility (developing autonomy).
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Web Sites, Collaborative Writing, Cooperative Learning, Scaffolding (Teaching Technique), Small Group Instruction, Student Projects, Teaching Methods, Undergraduate Students, Design, Data Collection, Observation, Interviews, Content Analysis, Instructional Effectiveness, Class Activities, Transfer of Training
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A