Computers & Education 52 (2009) 141–146

Abstract

This paper reports on a failed experiment to use Wiki technology to support student engagement with
the subject matter of a third year undergraduate module. Using qualitative data, the findings reveal that
in an educational context, social technologies such as Wiki’s, are perceived differently compared with
ordinary personal use and this discourages student adoption. A series of insights are then offered which
help HE teachers understand the pitfalls of integrating social technologies in educational contexts.

A brief summary of the paper, and its relevance to AMBIT

This was an interesting paper that looked at a failed attempt to use a wiki with a student group to support their learning - and has some lessons that the use of a wiki format (as in TiddlyManuals) has relevance to AMBIT.

Reflection No. 1

This suggests that it is not enough to build a wiki and expect people to use it - you have to work hard to HELP them use this new technology. We hope that in Using the Manual we have addressed this!

Reflection No. 2:

It is necessary that a "course" that uses wikis to support it is specifically designed "from the bottom up" with the Wiki in mind, rather than the wiki being a sort of "add on" to an existing course/curriculum. It should be immediately apparent to participants what the educational benefits are to them from using the wiki. AMBIT has had wiki-Manualization as one of the Core Features of AMBIT from the beginning!

Reflection No. 3:

The idea that use of a wiki is "fun" and might thus encourage use (akin to how people take up using, say, Facebook) is not necessarily true.

Reflection No. 4:

Assuming that people will "buy in" to the altruistic elements of wiki use is again not a "given". Some element of "assessment" of wiki-based contributions might be more likely to encourage engagement and use of this technology (the stick rather than the carrot!) We wonder if the thought of other teams examining "our" team's contributions is off-putting - as though a team might feel "bashful" or criticised by peers in other services?

Reflection No. 5:

Being clear about the limitations of what a wiki can or should be expected to do is important. Accepting that wikis do not suit every student's tastes is a sensible stance to adopt. This may be more directly relevant for wikis in which ALL students are expected to engage and add material to, rather than AMBIT's use of the wiki as a place for a whole team to record its own expertise, and its adaptations and modifications of the AMBIT core content.