Using Wikis to enhance the PBL experience at the University of Salford

Salford University has introduced wikis to the undergraduate occupational therapy programme in order to complement the PBL approach. The success of PBL can be said to lie in the group's ability to effectively share thoughts, ideas and information and translate these into new knowledge This process can be difficult however, due to the logistics required for 10-12 students to effectively contribute to a complex process. Recent advances in the use of Web 2.0 internet technologies have lead to the development of wikis. A Wiki is an interactive webpage aimed at facilitating group collaboration. Wikis are increasingly being used to aid group communication and projects are emerging as a potentially effective tool in education. At Salford, students undertaking a second level module were provided with a wiki page via the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment. A module evaluation was conducted with a cohort of 60 full time second level students using an online module evaluation tool and a nominal group technique . An evaluative account of the process of introducing and implementing the application was compiled, along with a qualitative thematic account of staff and student feedback from one randomly chosen PLB group. Ethical approval is not required for module evaluation, however student confidentiality is maintained. Evaluations suggest wikis to be an effective tool for facilitating group communication. Whilst these findings are not generalisable to other student populations, it is reasonable to suggest that the use of wikis may add significant value to the PBL students’ learning experience