The Use of a Wiki to Promote Online Collaborative Learning at a Thai University Zainee Waemusa A thesis submitted to Auckland University of Technology in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2016 School of Education Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................... i List of Figures .............................................................................................................. iv List of Tables ................................................................................................................ v Attestation of Authorship ............................................................................................. vi Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... vii Abstract ..................................................................................................................... viii Preface ......................................................................................................................... ix 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 2. Collaborative Learning: What Is It and Why Should It Be Valued? ........................ 9 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Social Constructivism ................................................................................... 10 2.3 Collaborative Learning ................................................................................. 18 2.3.1 Cooperative learning .............................................................................. 18 2.3.2 Collaborative learning ............................................................................ 20 2.4 Online Collaborative Learning: What and How ............................................. 22 2.5 Why Should Collaborative Learning Be Valued? .......................................... 31 2.6 Summary ...................................................................................................... 33 3. Wiki as a Web 2.0 Technology ............................................................................ 34 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 34 3.2 Web 2.0 Technology ..................................................................................... 34 3.2.1 Web 2.0 technology as a metaphor ......................................................... 34 3.2.2 Web 2.0 characteristics: Potential for knowledge construction ............... 38 3.2.3 Current and future educational uses ....................................................... 40 3.3 Wiki: A Collaborative Technology ............................................................... 44 3.4 Summary ...................................................................................................... 46 4. A Wiki Space as a Place to Learn ......................................................................... 47 4.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 47 4.2 Wiki: Educational Potential .......................................................................... 47 4.3 Learners with Digital Technologies ............................................................... 53 4.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................... 53 4.3.2 Different labels of young learners .......................................................... 55 4.3.3 Situating young learners within Thai culture and technologies ............... 61 4.4 Summary ...................................................................................................... 68 5. Wiki Studies in Relation to Collaborative Learning.............................................. 69 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 69 5.2 Challenges of Wiki Implementation .............................................................. 69 5.2.1 Challenges for learners .......................................................................... 69 i 5.2.2 Challenges for teachers .......................................................................... 72 5.3 Collaborative Learning Processes in Wiki Use: Key Issues of Knowledge Construction ............................................................................................................ 75 5.4 Wiki Studies in Thai Context ........................................................................ 82 5.5 Identification of Gaps in the Literature .......................................................... 84 5.6 Summary ...................................................................................................... 86 6. Research Design .................................................................................................. 87 6.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 87 6.2 Qualitative Research as Research Inquiry...................................................... 88 6.3 Research Approaches .................................................................................... 91 6.3.1 Design-based research: Approaching collaborative learning context ...... 91 6.3.2 The case study and its contribution to my research design ...................... 97 6.4 Research Methods ......................................................................................... 99 6.4.1 Research setting ..................................................................................... 99 6.4.2 Learning context .................................................................................. 100 6.4.3 Learners as participants........................................................................ 101 6.4.4 Data collection ..................................................................................... 103 6.4.5 Data analysis ....................................................................................... 111 6.5 Establishing Research Quality ..................................................................... 113 6.5.1 Reflexivity ........................................................................................... 114 6.5.2 Validity ............................................................................................... 115 6.5.3 Reliability ............................................................................................ 116 6.5.4 Ethical Issues ....................................................................................... 116 6.6 Summary .................................................................................................... 117 7. The Wiki Project ................................................................................................ 119 7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 119 7.2 Analysing Practical Problems of Wiki Use .................................................. 119 7.3 The Wiki Project as Designed Learning Environment ................................. 121 7.4 Planned Learning Support Activities as Interventions ................................. 124 7.4.1 Project orientation................................................................................ 124 7.4.2 Guidelines on the wiki project.............................................................. 127 7.4.3 Learning resource links ........................................................................ 129 7.4.4 Communication tools ........................................................................... 129 7.4.5 Project consultation ............................................................................. 131 7.4.6 Timely feedback .................................................................................. 132 7.4.7 Process-oriented assessment ................................................................ 133 7.5 Unplanned Learning Support to Respond to Emergent Problems ................. 135 7.5.1 Project instructions .............................................................................. 135 7.5.2 Refinement of project consultation....................................................... 135 7.5.3 Introducing a referencing tool .............................................................. 137 7.5.4 Introducing notification of wiki changes .............................................. 138 ii 7.6 Summary .................................................................................................... 139 8. Collaborative Process Themes I ......................................................................... 140 8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................ 140 8.2 Making Sense of Technologies ................................................................... 141 8.3 Understanding the Learning Space .............................................................. 149 8.4 Summary .................................................................................................... 154 9. Collaborative Process Themes II ........................................................................ 156 9.1