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Technological Developments in Networking, Education and Automation pp 133–138Cite as

Wikibooks as Tools for Promoting Constructivist Learning in Higher Education: Findings from a Case Study

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Abstract

The present paper focuses on wiki-related pedagogies in higher education and examines the potential of wikibooks in a blended learning context. A wikibook was integrated as a compulsory class assignment in an undergraduate course in a preschool education department. Twenty seven students participated in the study which investigated (a) the extent of student participation in the wikibook and (b) students' perspectives on the contribution of the wikibook to their learning. In stark contrast to findings reported by other studies, results indicated that the rate of student participation was very high as suggested by indices such as page views, page edits, and number of students involved per page edit. Moreover, the students rated positively wikibooks' contribution to the learning of the course concepts and the active mode of learning required. However, the students also mentioned significant problems with the wikibook activity such as difficulty understanding certain sections and concerns with the validity of their writings. The paper is concluded with a discussion of the findings and implications for further research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Preschool Education, School of the Humanities, University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece

    Ilias Karasavvidis

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  1. Ilias Karasavvidis
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Correspondence to Ilias Karasavvidis .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, USA

    Khaled Elleithy

  2. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, USA

    Tarek Sobh

  3. Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University, Jay Street 333, Brooklyn, 11201, USA

    Magued Iskander

  4. Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University, Jay Street 333, Brooklyn, 11201, USA

    Vikram Kapila

  5. Old Dominion University, Monarch Way 4111, Norfolk, 23508, USA

    Mohammad A. Karim

  6. School of Engineering, University of Bridgeport, University Avenue 221, Bridgeport, 06604, USA

    Ausif Mahmood

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Karasavvidis, I. (2010). Wikibooks as Tools for Promoting Constructivist Learning in Higher Education: Findings from a Case Study. In: Elleithy, K., Sobh, T., Iskander, M., Kapila, V., Karim, M., Mahmood, A. (eds) Technological Developments in Networking, Education and Automation. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9151-2_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9151-2_23

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-9150-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-90-481-9151-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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