Loading...
Publication
Wiki as a Tool for Engaging Students with a Science Problem Solving Activity
| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 192.88 KB | Adobe PDF |
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
This study aims at knowing how students experience wikis while they are involved in a
problem solving science activity. The study took place in a physics and chemistry 8th
grade class (13 years old), where teacher implemented a problem solving activity about
acid-base reactions, using a wiki. Participants were 20 students, of which 12 were
female students. The activity involved six different working groups. Wikis were
analyzed with the goal to identify students’ level and quality of participation.
Furthermore, in order to understand students’ experiences concerning the learning
situation six focus group interviews were carried on. Three highly participating groups
presented successful strategies and achieved the learning goals. These students used
complex strategies for analyzing the information and used theoretical knowledge to
make sense of information gathered. The collaborative processes were essential for
enabling a feeling of competence and for assuring a successful learning experience.
These groups revealed a high level of cognitive engagement. In comparison, poorly
participating groups didn’t present a successful strategy of knowledge co-construction
and revealed difficulties in understanding the scientific concepts involved. Furthermore,
each poorly participating group experienced the learning situation quite differently.
Results suggest that students’ engagement with a problem solving activity using a wiki
is affected by a complex interplay of emotional, technical and social issues. Some
recommendations for facilitating students’ engagement with wikis emerge from the
study: to carefully support collaborative processes and to create safe learning
environments in which error is valued as an opportunity for learning.
Description
Keywords
Wiki – engagement Problem solving Science education
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Freire, S., Faria, C., Baptista, M., Freire, A., & Galvão, C. (2013). Wiki as a tool for engaging students with a science problem solving activity. Electronic Journal of Science Education, 17(2), 1-24.