Wikis in High Schools: an example of using Wikis for the Project course in Greek High Schools

The use of ITs in education has created new opportunities for learning and has introduced new ways for knowledge acquisition. Web 2.0 technology presents a variety of tools that can support learning procedure in all levels of Education. Wikis constitute one of the most widespread tools that support cooperation and Project-based learning. This study examines the possibility of a wider use of Wikis for the “Project”, a course that has been taught in Greek High Schools for the last four years. Recently the Greek Ministry of Education attempted to make a shift from traditional learning methods to modern teaching ways that use ITs in all level of education. “Project” course constitutes a pilot course for this attempt and follows new innovating ways of learning. The course has an interdisciplinary character and aims to exploit the benefits of the Project-based learning and to enhance students to cooperation and interaction. The research explores the way that Wikis could support the basic aims of the course and the circumstances under which learners and teachers could be motivated for this use. This qualitative study was conducted in the 1st Lyceum of Eleusis, “Aristoteleio”, and followed the Action-oriented Research approach. The research included interviews with five teachers and a focus group of students. The main outcomes showed that important changes in the Greek Educational system should be done in order for this use to be enhanced.