TDG – Incorporating Wiki to Enhance Students’ Collaborative Learning and Academic Performance in Traditional Research Method and Statistics Courses

Abstract

The main aim of this project was to improve students’ collaborative learning, learning approach and academic performance in traditional research method and statistics course through the use of wiki technology. Twenty-one BSc (Exercise and Health) students used wiki to supplement the traditional face-to-face mode of teaching and learning; and 24 students acted as controls (i.e. no access to wiki platform). All students were evaluated on their collaborative learning, academic performance and learning approach using the Group Process Questionnaire (GPQ), course result and Revised Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F), respectively, at the end of the semester. Results revealed that R-SPQ-2F surface approach score, surface motive score and surface strategy score were lower in the wiki group than that of the control group (p < 0.05); whereas GPQ individual accountability score and equal opportunity score were higher in the wiki group than that of the control group (p < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the overall course result between the two groups of students. The frequency of using wiki was about 0.7 times per week per student in the wiki group. We concluded that using wiki infrequently could improve students’ collaborative learning and learning approach, but may not improve the course result. Future project may encourage the students to increase the frequency of accessing wiki to improve academic result.

Deliverables