ERIC Number: EJ955696
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1042-0541
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Available Date: N/A
A Longitudinal Study to Determine If Wiki Work Builds Community among Agricultural Adult Education Students
Kelsey, Kathleen D.; Lin, Hong; Franke-Dvorak, Tanya C.
Journal of Agricultural Education, v52 n2 p71-81 2011
Wiki has been lauded as a tool that enhances collaborative writing in educational settings and moves learners toward a state of communal constructivism (Holmes, Tangney, FitzGibbon, Savage, & Mehan., 2001). Many pedagogical claims exist regarding the benefits of using wiki. However, these claims have rarely been challenged. This study used a three-year longitudinal cohort survey design (Creswell, 2008) to measure learners' perception regarding the pedagogical claims of wiki to create an online textbook in a graduate agricultural adult education course. The overall survey mean was 2.37 on a four-point scale (2.0 = not sure, 3.0 = agree). Learners were positively but marginally impacted by the wiki writing experiences in terms of knowledge construction and enhanced critical thinking skills. Study results marginally support Holmes' et al. theory that interactive communication technologies (ICT) create constructivist learning opportunities. Collaborative writing does not naturally emerge from wiki work. Rather, it must be coaxed and nurtured through reward and a self-directed learning approach. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Constructivism (Learning), Adult Education, Collaborative Writing, Writing Instruction, Thinking Skills, Longitudinal Studies, Web 2.0 Technologies, Agricultural Education, Participant Satisfaction, Likert Scales, Computer Mediated Communication, Computer Software Evaluation, Technology Uses in Education, Electronic Publishing, Student Attitudes, Program Effectiveness, Influence of Technology, Communities of Practice
American Association for Agricultural Education. P.O. Box 7607, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Raleigh, NC 27695. Web site: http://www.aaaeonline.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
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Language: English
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