Towards a Promising Technology for Online Collaborative Learning: Wiki + Threaded Discussion

Abstract

Despite the well-established benefits of collaborative learning, successfully implementing group activities in online environments is often a challenge for online instructors. Web 2.0 technologies provide opportunities for the implementation of more effective computer-supported collaborative learning environments for online learning. Yet, the affordances of such technologies are currently under-researched. We present a case study investigating the affordances of wikis to support online collaborative learning, compared to asynchronous threaded discussion tools. This case study focuses on two selected groups (four students each) collaborating on the analysis of a case scenario, first using wiki (vs. threaded discussion), then using threaded discussion (vs. wiki). Our initial analysis showed that groups demonstrated different patterns of collaboration in each technology. Complete results, discussion, and implications of this work for future research and practice in online education will be included in the final presentation.