Using Wiki Technology in the Classroom

How do engineering students develop norms and standards for collaborative work in a Wiki society? Students from first and second semesters participated in two experiments. In the first semester they used the Wiki as project logs and in the second semester the same students used the Wiki as a collaborative learning tool for encyclopaedia articles on learning and technology. There were several potential dilemmas in the students’ collaborative work: Inspiration versus imitation of others’ ideas and solutions; academic achievements versus friendships; varying work ethics and academic levels; and editing or adding text. From these dilemmas and potential conflicts emerged social norms, such as norms for structuring, editing and collaborating on Wiki pages. The emerging social norms were answers to the potential dilemmas and conflicts.