Enhancing and Evaluating Collaboration in Group Projects via Wikis Kevin M. Williams Associate Professor, Chemistry FaCET presentation 2/24/2009

Outline Introduction Introduction Pros/cons of group projects Pros/cons of group projects Wikis and group project enhancement Wikis and group project enhancement Overview of fall 2007 project Overview of fall 2007 project Honors-embedded section Honors-embedded section Project design and details Project design and details Rubric development Rubric development Reflections and suggestions Reflections and suggestions

Potential advantages to group projects Opportunity for teamwork, cooperation Opportunity for teamwork, cooperation Different backgrounds, abilities Different backgrounds, abilities Larger scope to projects Larger scope to projects Interdisciplinary projects often large Interdisciplinary projects often large Improved quality Improved quality Discussion and critiquing within group Discussion and critiquing within group Peer-to-peer teaching Peer-to-peer teaching

Potential difficulties with group projects Group dynamics Group dynamics Overlapping efforts Overlapping efforts Unequal contributions Unequal contributions Overachievers and underachievers…same grade?? Overachievers and underachievers…same grade?? Minimal communication Minimal communication Individual projects with a common theme vs. true collaborative effort Individual projects with a common theme vs. true collaborative effort Reduced sense of ownership Reduced sense of ownership

Wikis Traditional website Traditional website One creator of content, global access One creator of content, global access Wiki Wiki “Everyone” can create and modify content “Everyone” can create and modify content  Can sometimes restrict read/write privileges Most recent version is displayed by default Most recent version is displayed by default  Can access and compare previous versions

Potential advantages to wiki use Immediate access to most recent version Immediate access to most recent version See work of others without direct communication See work of others without direct communication Easier to integrate into a true collaborative effort Easier to integrate into a true collaborative effort Faculty can monitor progress Faculty can monitor progress Older versions retained, can be compared Older versions retained, can be compared Documentation of individual contributions Documentation of individual contributions Option to assess individually Option to assess individually Insight into group dynamics Insight into group dynamics

Advantages, cont'd Can restrict read/write/comment privileges Can restrict read/write/comment privileges Easy venue for “publication” of project at end Easy venue for “publication” of project at end

Wiki hosting sites Netcipia ( Netcipia ( Free to create pages, invite students Free to create pages, invite students Blog included, can have multiple wiki pages Blog included, can have multiple wiki pages Somewhat clumsy, but becoming more user-friendly Somewhat clumsy, but becoming more user-friendly Can restrict read/write/comment privileges to yourself, invited members only, or everyone Can restrict read/write/comment privileges to yourself, invited members only, or everyone Blackboard ( Blackboard ( Wiki and blog options available Wiki and blog options available Can restrict student privileges to read/write/comment Can restrict student privileges to read/write/comment I haven’t used this option yet I haven’t used this option yet

Fall 2007 project: HEEC CHEM 446 (Biochemistry I) CHEM 446 (Biochemistry I) Taken by most biology or chemistry majors Taken by most biology or chemistry majors Many Honors students take biochemistry, but not enough for separate section Many Honors students take biochemistry, but not enough for separate section Honors-Embedded Enriched Curriculum Honors-Embedded Enriched Curriculum Like group augmentation, but separate section on TopNet (like G component of 400-level class) Like group augmentation, but separate section on TopNet (like G component of 400-level class) Faculty-created, separate syllabus Faculty-created, separate syllabus Honors-eligible students Honors-eligible students

Project design Honors work often unique, interdisciplinary, team-based, applicable Honors work often unique, interdisciplinary, team-based, applicable Interdisciplinary understanding of a disease Interdisciplinary understanding of a disease Groups of 4 or 5 students (ideally) choose a disease to study Groups of 4 or 5 students (ideally) choose a disease to study Group researches impacts of disease from several perspectives Group researches impacts of disease from several perspectives

Sample questions to consider What is the biochemistry of the disease? What is the biochemistry of the disease? Molecules, cellular targets involved Molecules, cellular targets involved How is the disease diagnosed? How is the disease diagnosed? Equipment and tests used, what is detected Equipment and tests used, what is detected What is the clinical prognosis? What is the clinical prognosis? Lifespan, quality of life, loss of function Lifespan, quality of life, loss of function

Questions, continued How does the disease affect the patient, friends, and family? How does the disease affect the patient, friends, and family? Work issues, emotional impact, heredity Work issues, emotional impact, heredity How does the disease impact society? How does the disease impact society? Selectivity of disease; healthcare and cultural impacts Selectivity of disease; healthcare and cultural impacts What can we do about it? What can we do about it? Research, education, healthcare facilities Research, education, healthcare facilities

Why interdisciplinary? Examples from Alzheimer's project Education and problem solving affect Alzheimer’s risk…biochemistry? Education and problem solving affect Alzheimer’s risk…biochemistry? Promise of newer detection methods…family and insurance issues? Promise of newer detection methods…family and insurance issues? Medicare spends >$100 billion on Alzheimer’s care…research impact? Medicare spends >$100 billion on Alzheimer’s care…research impact?

Honors biochemistry wiki (note: global read privileges, restricted write/comment) (note: global read privileges, restricted write/comment)

Meetings and deadlines Meet during first 2-3 weeks to discuss project, choose disease Meet during first 2-3 weeks to discuss project, choose disease Meet every 1-2 weeks in person Meet every 1-2 weeks in person Faster synchronous communication Faster synchronous communication Early deadline for posting preliminary findings, continue iterations Early deadline for posting preliminary findings, continue iterations Final project due on day of final exam Final project due on day of final exam No in-class exam, so students met to finalize wiki No in-class exam, so students met to finalize wiki

Rubric 1.0 Organization (20 pts) Organization (20 pts) Well-organized with consistent flow throughout Well-organized with consistent flow throughout Integration of ideas (25 pts) Integration of ideas (25 pts) Connections across disciplines that integrate various perspectives Connections across disciplines that integrate various perspectives Grammar, spelling, mechanics (15 pts) Grammar, spelling, mechanics (15 pts) Careful proofreading Careful proofreading Sources and documentation (20 pts) Sources and documentation (20 pts) Well-documented and diverse use of quality sources Well-documented and diverse use of quality sources Individual participation (20 pts) Individual participation (20 pts) Involvement in research and construction of wiki Involvement in research and construction of wiki

Reflections Students enjoyed project, appreciated wiki Students enjoyed project, appreciated wiki Value beyond class grade Value beyond class grade Wanted website to be public Wanted website to be public Interest in Honors Roundtable presentation Interest in Honors Roundtable presentation Individual assessment viewed positively Individual assessment viewed positively Motivating, encouraging Motivating, encouraging

Suggestions Start small (1-3 groups) Start small (1-3 groups) Early posts essential for integration Early posts essential for integration Consider deadline for first post Consider deadline for first post In-person meetings still important In-person meetings still important Accountability and communication Accountability and communication Group size should be limited Group size should be limited Group dynamics, individual assessment issues Group dynamics, individual assessment issues

Acknowledgments Department of Chemistry Department of Chemistry Honors College Honors College Fall 2007 class Fall 2007 class Mannie Webb Mannie Webb Derrek Brown Derrek Brown Emily Turner Emily Turner Dustin Payne Dustin Payne Michelle Fusting Michelle Fusting