The wiki factor

Scaffolding online learning in groups

Abstract

We have used Web 2.0 technology to transform undergraduate group work, in higher education, preparing students for ways in which people will work together in the future. This was implemented within Leapfrog Biology, an intensive four week online program developed for students who have not completed year 12 biology and who are entering first year medical studies. We used wikis to facilitate both the process and the product of online collaboration. This paper presents the evolution of the educational design of the online environment and the underlying pedagogy with a focus on online group work and the scaffolding of collaborative learning. Student activity in group wikis, assessed from edit trails and discussion posts, was analysed quantitatively in terms of participation and qualitatively in terms of the nature of student contributions. Scaffolding of learning in groups and ways groups were selected are described and related to student activity.