Collaboration and Learning with Wikis in Post-Secondary Classrooms

This research examined the use of wikis used in support of collaboration and learning in two post-secondary courses in a large Midwestern university that adopted wikis in pedagogically different ways. In the first course, students used their wiki as a course content glossary for posting and editing original contributions. They perceived the wiki as positively supporting collaboration efforts and effectively supporting learning and engagement. In the second course, wikis were used to develop, share, and edit project assignments. These students perceived the wiki as not supporting collaboration, and they reported modest perceptions of the wiki supporting their learning and engagement and supporting the development of high-quality assignment products. Technical aspects of the wiki tools impacted the two group’s respective perceptions.