Using wikis to enhance Using wikis to enhance group projectsgroup projects

Kevin M. WilliamsKevin M. WilliamsAssistant Professor, ChemistryAssistant Professor, Chemistry

April 11, 2008April 11, 2008kevin.williams@wku.edu kevin.williams@wku.edu

Assessment of individual contributions is very Assessment of individual contributions is very difficultdifficult

All students often receive same grade even if All students often receive same grade even if participation level variesparticipation level varies Some students may “take over”Some students may “take over” Some students may not contribute muchSome students may not contribute much

Students may feel lack of ownership of final projectStudents may feel lack of ownership of final project Student efforts may overlap since students may not Student efforts may overlap since students may not

see one another’s work in progresssee one another’s work in progress Final product often a collection of individual pieces Final product often a collection of individual pieces

instead of a coherent, integrated projectinstead of a coherent, integrated project Difficult to monitor progress during the construction Difficult to monitor progress during the construction

of the projectof the project

Challenges of group Challenges of group projectsprojects

Group project was used as honors-embedded Group project was used as honors-embedded component in biochemistry coursecomponent in biochemistry course

Students chose to study Alzheimer's disease Students chose to study Alzheimer's disease for honors projectfor honors project

Expected to learn about the disease from Expected to learn about the disease from several perspectives, including:several perspectives, including: Biochemistry (what molecules, reactions, Biochemistry (what molecules, reactions,

interactions are involved)interactions are involved) Clinical (diagnosis, prognosis)Clinical (diagnosis, prognosis) Causes (genetic, lifestyle, other factors)Causes (genetic, lifestyle, other factors) Impacts (on patient, family, society)Impacts (on patient, family, society)

Overview of biochemistry Overview of biochemistry projectproject

Biochemistry project, contd.Biochemistry project, contd. Students were expected to consider Students were expected to consider

relationships between perspectivesrelationships between perspectives How improved methods of detection could impact How improved methods of detection could impact

patients and familiespatients and families Biochemical basis for studies suggesting education Biochemical basis for studies suggesting education

impacts risk of contracting diseaseimpacts risk of contracting disease To make connections across disciplines, it To make connections across disciplines, it

was essential that students see what other was essential that students see what other students were finding while the project was students were finding while the project was ongoingongoing

Wikis are web sites that can be viewed Wikis are web sites that can be viewed and modifiedand modified by multiple users (i.e. all by multiple users (i.e. all group members in this case)group members in this case) Wikipedia and Wiktionary are examplesWikipedia and Wiktionary are examples

Netcipia (http://www.netcipia.net) was Netcipia (http://www.netcipia.net) was chosen for the class wikichosen for the class wiki Freely available serviceFreely available service Allows owner of site to set permissions for Allows owner of site to set permissions for

read/write/comment (can restrict permissions)read/write/comment (can restrict permissions)

WikisWikis

Our group wikiOur group wikihttp://http://honorsbiochem.netcipia.nethonorsbiochem.netcipia.net

ChallengesChallenges Some features may not be intuitive to

less technologically inclined individuals Learning curve may be steeper for some

Students somewhat hesitant to post preliminary data (since all versions retained)

No on-campus support for Netcipia if problems arise

AdvantagesAdvantages Hosted on a site accessible by internet

Can work on project at any time from any place with internet access

Reduces risk of data loss (hard drive crash, flash drive loss, etc.)

All members can view and modify Current draft immediately available No one student has to be responsible for assembly of the

pieces Easier to integrate pieces into coherent unit Instructor can monitor progress of the project

Previous versions are retained Allows for assessment of individual contributions Students’ contributions are documented No irreversible changes

Getting startedGetting started Must find web site that can host wikiMust find web site that can host wiki

http://www.netcipia.nethttp://www.netcipia.net is one possibility is one possibility Set up your personal log-in, create a space Set up your personal log-in, create a space

(do both simultaneously in Netcipia)(do both simultaneously in Netcipia) Set up read/write privileges for space (“Place Set up read/write privileges for space (“Place

rights” in Netcipia)rights” in Netcipia) Invite group members to joinInvite group members to join Note: many sites (including Netcipia) have Note: many sites (including Netcipia) have

tutorials that may be useful for first-time tutorials that may be useful for first-time usersusers

SuggestionsSuggestions Build a site and become familiar with how to Build a site and become familiar with how to

post before the semester beginspost before the semester begins Have groups meet in person on a regular basis Have groups meet in person on a regular basis

during semesterduring semester Monitor site on a weekly basis to track status of Monitor site on a weekly basis to track status of

project and ensure all are contributingproject and ensure all are contributing Have a deadline relatively early in the semester Have a deadline relatively early in the semester

by which students must post somethingby which students must post something Keep groups relatively small if individual Keep groups relatively small if individual

assessment important (my project had 5 assessment important (my project had 5 people)people)

ConclusionsConclusions Participants agreed that despite

some minor technical challenges, use of a wiki improved construction and assessment of the project

Potential applications include: group class projects, lab reports, and logging student research activities

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments Department of Chemistry Honors College Honors biochemistry class members

Emily Turner Mannie Webb Derrek Brown Michelle Fusting Dustin Payne