Examination of Implicit Interactivity in Wiki-based Learning in University

The arrival of the Web 2.0 age, which is characterized by such key words as participation, sharing and openness, provides a learning environment in which both instructors and students can experience interactivity. In the educational area, we are particularly witnessing a growing interest in the social software like Wiki as one of the communication tools that reflects the characteristics of Web 2.0 and focuses on the interactivity with others. Based on this background, this study aims to examine into the meanings of interactivity inherent in the Wiki-based learning by studying such cases where Wiki is being used as a learning tool. For the purpose of our study, we practiced the Wiki-based learning method on the study subjects of the 17 junior students from U- University and 18 junior students from K- University during their 2009 fall semester teacher training courses. Through a comprehensive analysis of the questionnaires, interviews, Interactivity Measurement Diagram, examinations on the Wiki uses, Daily Self-reflection Records, and any other materials collected throughout the program, we could garner the following results: First, most of the students acknowledged that the use of Wiki was a useful communication means and helped promote their interactivity during their learning activities. Second, the interactivity of the Wiki-based learning was found to be more dynamic in the team-based projects or the community-based Wiki uses than in the instructor-oriented cases. Third, the Wiki-based learning is judged effective in expanding the scope of thinking and improving the learning capabilities through the collaborative knowledge-building process. The educational employment of the social software like Wiki in this web 2.0 age has great potentials for the true establishment of the learner-oriented learning environment, which has long remained at a standstill.