Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Employing Wikibook project in a linguistics course to promote peer teaching and learning

  • Published:
Education and Information Technologies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Peer teaching and learning are learner-centred approaches with great potential for promoting effective learning, and the fast development of Web 2.0 technology has opened new doors for promoting peer teaching and learning. In this study, we aim to establish peer teaching and learning among students by employing a Wikibook project in the course ‘Introduction to Linguistics’ in the Hong Kong Institute of Education. Students were asked to work in groups to write an academic book online, and the Wikibook technology allows students to peer-edit and peer-comment on each other’s academic works online. Peer teaching sessions were arranged as well based on the content of the Wikibook. To determine students’ perceptions on peer teaching and learning occurring in the course, two surveys and follow-up interviews were conducted. The findings suggest that the Wikibook project is an effective way to promote peer teaching and learning in higher education.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Chart 1
Chart 2
Chart 3
Chart 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barnard, R., & Compbell, L. (2005). Sociocultural theory and the teaching of process writing: the scaffolding of learning in a university context. The TESOLANZ Journal, 13, 76–88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benson, P. (2001). Teaching and researching autonomy in language learning. Hong Kong: Longman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biggs, J., & Tang, C. (2011). Teaching for quality learning at university (4th ed.). Maidenhead, GBR: McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boud, D. (2001). Introduction: Making the move to peer learning. In D. Boud, R. Cohen, & J. Sampson (Eds.), Peer learning in higher education: Learning from and with each other (pp. 1–17). London: Kogan Page Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boud, D., Cohen, R., & Sampson, J. (1999). Peer learning and assessment. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 24(1), 413–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brophy, J. E. (2010). Motivating students to learn (3rd ed.). Florence: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cabrera, A. F., Crissman, J. L., Bernal, E. M., Nora, A., Terenzini, P. T., & Pascarella, E. T. (2002). Collaborative learning: its impact on college students’ development and diversity. Journal of College Student Development, 43(2), 20–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carney-Strahler, B. (2011). Wikis: promoting collaborative literacy through affordable technology in content-area classrooms. Creative Education, 2, 76–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clark, C. J., & Mason, E. B. (2008). Wiki way of working. Internet Reference Services Quarterly, 13(1), 113–132.

  • De Lisi, R. (2002). From marbles to instant messenger™: implications of Piaget’s ideas about peer learning. Theory Into Practice, 41(1), 5–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dillenbourg, P. (Ed.). (1999). Collaborative learning: Cognitive and computational approaches. Amsterdam, The Netherland, New York: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Falchikov, N. (2001). Learning together: Peer tutoring in higher education. London: Routledge Falmer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Falchikov, N. (2007). The place of peers in learning and assessment. In D. Boud & N. Falchikov (Eds.), Rethinking assessment in higher education: Learning for the longer term (pp. 128–143). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitch, D. (2007). Wherefore wikis? Journal of Technology in Human Services, 25(4), 79–85.

  • Freeman, M. (2010). Vygotsky and the virtual classroom: sociocultural theory comes to the communications classroom. Christian Perspectives in Education, 4(1), 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goh, K. (2006). Investigating peer learning and teaching in a problem-based learning context. Problem-based learning: New directions and approaches (pp. 145–159). Singapore: Temasek Centre for Problem-Based Learning Learning Academy.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldschmid, B., & Goldschmid, M. L. (1976). Peer teaching in higher education: a review. Higher Education, 5(1), 9–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hadjerrouit, S. (2011). A Collaborative writing approach to wikis: design, implementation, and evaluation. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 8, 431–449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holec, H. (1981). Autonomy in foreign language learning. Oxford: Pergamon.

  • Lamb, A., & Johnson, L. (2007). An information skills workout: wikis and collaborative writing. Teacher Librarian, 34(5), 57–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipponen, L. (2002). Exploring foundations for computer-supported collaborative learning. In Proceedings of the conference on computer support for collaborative learning: Foundations for a CSCL community (pp. 72–81). International Society of the Learning Sciences. Retrived April 15, 2014, from http://www.helsinki.fi/science/networkedlearning/texts/lipponen2002.pdf.

  • Little, D. (1991). Learner autonomy 1: Definitions, issues and problems. Dublin: Authentik.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, D. (1996). Freedom to learn and compulsion to interact: Promoting learner autonomy through the use of information systems and information technologies. In R. Pemberton et al. (Eds.), Taking control: Autonomy in language learning (pp. 203–218). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little, D. (2004). Learner autonomy, teacher autonomy and the European Language Portolio. UNTELE, Université de Compiègne. Retrived April 15, 2014, from http://www.utc.fr/~untele/2004ppt/handouts/little.pdf.

  • Littlewood, W. (1996). Autonomy: an anatomy and a framework. System, 24(4), 427–435.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Louis, R. S. (2006). Helping students become autonomous learner: can technology help? Retrieved March 10, 2014, from http://www.tewtjournal.org/VOL%206/ISSUE%203/03_HELPINGSTUDENTS.pdf.

  • Mak, B., & Coniam, D. (2008). Using wikis to enhance and develop writing skills among secondary school students in Hong Kong. System, 36(3), 437–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell, L. (1995). The impact of innovative assessment on student learning. Innovations in Education and Training International, 32(4), 302–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mcmahon, T., & Thakore, H. (2006). Achieving constructive alignment: putting outcomes first. The Quality of Higher Education, 3, 10–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, K. (2006). Wikis and literacy development. Teacher Librarian, 34(1), 67–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Donnell, A. M., & Topping, K. (1998). Peers assessing peers: Possibilities and problems. In K. Topping & S. Ehly (Eds.), Peer-assisted learning, chapter 14. Mahwah: L. Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, K. R., & Chao, J. T. (2007). Wiki as a teaching tool. Interdisciplinary Journal of Knowledge and Learning Objects, 3, 57–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paus-Hasebrink, I., Wijnen, C. W., & Jadin, T. (2010). Opportunities of Web 2.0: potentials of learning. International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics, 6, 45–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruth, A., & Houghton, L. (2009). The wiki way of learning. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 25(2), 135–152.

  • Su, F., & Beaumont, C. (2010). Evaluating the use of a wiki for collaborative learning. Innovations in Education and Training International, 47(4), 417–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, P. S. (1992). Cognitive styles and the student as teacher. The French Review, 65(5), 701–707.

    Google Scholar 

  • Topping, K. J. (2005). Trends in peer learning. Educational Psychology, 25(6), 631–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Topping, K. J., Smith, E. F., Swanson, I., & Elliot, A. (2000). Formative peer assessment of academic writing between postgraduate students. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 25(2), 151–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Velez, J. J., Cano, J., Whittington, M. S., & Wolf, K. J. (2011). Cultivating change through peer teaching. Journal of Agricultural Education, 52(1), 40–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wenger, E. (2001). Supporting communities of practice: a survey of community-oriented technologies. Retrieved April 15, 2014, from http://go.webassistant.com/4u/upload/users/u1000471/cop_technology_2001.pdf.

  • Wheeler, S., Yeomans, P., & Wheeler, D. (2008). The good, the bad and the wiki: evaluating student-generated content for collaborative learning. British Journal of Educational Technology, 39(6), 987–995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitman, N. (1988). Peer teaching: To teach is to learn twice. Washington D.C.: Association for the Study of Higher Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winston, G. C., & Zimmerman, D. J. (2004). Peer effects in higher education. In C. M. Hoxby (Ed.), College choices: The economic of where to go, when to go, and how to pay it, chapter 9 (pp. 395–423). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong

    Lixun Wang

Authors
  1. Lixun Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lixun Wang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, L. Employing Wikibook project in a linguistics course to promote peer teaching and learning. Educ Inf Technol 21, 453–470 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9332-x

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-014-9332-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation