The tensions of transformation in three cross-institutional wikibook projects

• Published in: The Internet and higher education Vol. 12; no. 3; pp. 126 - 135
• Main Authors: Bonk, Curtis J., Lee, Mimi Miyoung, Kim, Nari, Lin, Meng-Fen Grace
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01-12-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Barriers; China; College Faculty; Computer Mediated Communication; Computer Uses in Education; Constructivism (Learning); Cross-institutional collaboration; Educational Environment; Educational Technology; Electronic Publishing; Foreign Countries; Graduate Students; Guidelines; Instructional Effectiveness; Internet; Knowledge transformation; Knowledge transmission; Learning; Malaysia; Postgraduate students; Program Effectiveness; Student Attitudes; Student Projects; Student Surveys; Taiwan; Teacher Attitudes; Teacher Surveys; Teaching Methods; Transformation; Transformative Learning; United States; Web 2.0; Web Sites; Wikibooks; Wikis; Malaysia; United States; China; Taiwan; Web 2.0; Knowledge transmission; Cross-institutional collaboration; Transformative learning; Knowledge transformation; Wikibooks; Wikis
• ISSN: 1096-7516; 1873-5525
• DOI: 10.1016/j.iheduc.2009.04.002

Wikis have the potential to change learning environments from traditional knowledge transmission models to knowledge transformative ones where students generate, share, and reshape knowledge. In this three-part study, graduate students created wikibooks across institutional settings. One of these projects extended to universities in China, Taiwan, Malaysia, and the United States, whereas the other two involved two universities in the United States. The degree of scaffolding and other support varied in each project. At the end of each study, students were surveyed about their wikibook efforts. In addition, instructors across the institutions were interviewed about the obstacles they faced as well the opportunities. Based on these results, more than two dozen cross-institutional wikibook issues are organized into five key themes: (1) instructional issues; (2) collaboration issues; (3) technology issues; (4) constructivism and sense of community issues; and (5) wikibook issues. Several recommendations are offered related to the use of wikibooks in the classroom as a transformational learning tool.