1 Wikis for Women's Health: Social Constructivist Analysis of the Effectiveness of Online Collaborative Spaces for Reflective Learning

Public Health undergraduate students studying the unit Women’s Health undertook a teaching and learning exercise which required them to learn to create and use a wiki website for reflective learning purposes. The Women’s Health wiki provided an online shared, collaborative, and creative space wherein the students ’ perceptions of women's health issues could be discussed, reflected upon, and debated. We analysed the content developed on the Women’s Health wiki using a social constructivist theoretical framework and provided a theoretical model for how the wiki worked to aid reflective and critical thinking, as well as developing technological and communicative skills amongst students. Background and Rationale The use of online pedagogy within higher education institutions is increasing (Sarkar, 2012), with Information Communication Technology (ICT) mediums used to promote interactive environments and new approaches to learning, including a broad engagement of Web 2.0 platforms (Alexander & Levine, 2008, Carroll 2014). Web 2.0 technologies provide greater independence, collaboration and autonomy among students, promote self-learning, stimulate students to delve deeper into issues presented to them and keep students interested in th