Using wikis to enhance group projects Kevin M. Williams Assistant Professor, Chemistry April 11, 2008

Assessment of individual contributions is very difficult Assessment of individual contributions is very difficult All students often receive same grade even if participation level varies All students often receive same grade even if participation level varies Some students may “take over” Some students may “take over” Some students may not contribute much Some students may not contribute much Students may feel lack of ownership of final project Students may feel lack of ownership of final project Student efforts may overlap since students may not see one another’s work in progress Student efforts may overlap since students may not see one another’s work in progress Final product often a collection of individual pieces instead of a coherent, integrated project Final product often a collection of individual pieces instead of a coherent, integrated project Difficult to monitor progress during the construction of the project Difficult to monitor progress during the construction of the project Challenges of group projects

Group project was used as honors-embedded component in biochemistry course Group project was used as honors-embedded component in biochemistry course Students chose to study Alzheimer's disease for honors project Students chose to study Alzheimer's disease for honors project Expected to learn about the disease from several perspectives, including: Expected to learn about the disease from several perspectives, including: Biochemistry (what molecules, reactions, interactions are involved) Biochemistry (what molecules, reactions, 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 project

Biochemistry project, contd. Students were expected to consider relationships between perspectives Students were expected to consider relationships between perspectives How improved methods of detection could impact patients and families How improved methods of detection could impact patients and families Biochemical basis for studies suggesting education impacts risk of contracting disease Biochemical basis for studies suggesting education impacts risk of contracting disease To make connections across disciplines, it was essential that students see what other students were finding while the project was ongoing To make connections across disciplines, it was essential that students see what other students were finding while the project was ongoing

Wikis are web sites that can be viewed and modified by multiple users (i.e. all group members in this case) Wikis are web sites that can be viewed and modified by multiple users (i.e. all group members in this case) Wikipedia and Wiktionary are examples Wikipedia and Wiktionary are examples Netcipia ( was chosen for the class wiki Netcipia ( was chosen for the class wiki Freely available service Freely available service Allows owner of site to set permissions for read/write/comment (can restrict permissions) Allows owner of site to set permissions for read/write/comment (can restrict permissions) Wikis

Our group wiki

Challenges 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

Advantages 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 started Must find web site that can host wiki Must find web site that can host wiki is one possibility is one possibility Set up your personal log-in, create a space (do both simultaneously in Netcipia) Set up your personal log-in, create a space (do both simultaneously in Netcipia) Set up read/write privileges for space (“Place rights” in Netcipia) Set up read/write privileges for space (“Place rights” in Netcipia) Invite group members to join Invite group members to join Note: many sites (including Netcipia) have tutorials that may be useful for first-time users Note: many sites (including Netcipia) have tutorials that may be useful for first-time users

Suggestions Build a site and become familiar with how to post before the semester begins Build a site and become familiar with how to post before the semester begins Have groups meet in person on a regular basis during semester Have groups meet in person on a regular basis during semester Monitor site on a weekly basis to track status of project and ensure all are contributing Monitor site on a weekly basis to track status of project and ensure all are contributing Have a deadline relatively early in the semester by which students must post something Have a deadline relatively early in the semester by which students must post something Keep groups relatively small if individual assessment important (my project had 5 people) Keep groups relatively small if individual assessment important (my project had 5 people)

Conclusions 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

Acknowledgments Department of Chemistry Honors College Honors biochemistry class members Emily Turner Mannie Webb Derrek Brown Michelle Fusting Dustin Payne