Using wikis, and only wikis, to teach and assess an advanced mathematics module

Sixteen mathematics undergraduates at the University of Warwick volunteered to take part in an experimental third-year module in advanced algebra for 12 CATS of course credit. The module was organised and assessed entirely through the medium of wikis. It ran over a period of 16 weeks in the autumn and spring terms of 2007-08 and was divided into eight 2-week 'chapters'. Each chapter began with the posting of an outline syllabus on the wiki. Working in four groups of 4, the students spent the first phase of each fortnight writing their own group wiki, putting flesh on the bare bones of the syllabus by providing lemmas, proofs, examples, history, graphics, and pedagogical content. One of the four group wikis was then 'promoted' to the module wiki and all groups joined forces in the second phase to edit, improve and polish this promoted wiki. Each chapter was assessed, and feedback was given, within a few days on the closing deadline of each of the eight 2-week chapters.
E-Learning in Mathematical Sciences Seminar Series, Nottingham Trent University
Talk by Trevor Hawkes, University of Warwick
6 May 2009

Category:

Education

Tags:

• university
• education
• teaching
• learning
• pedagogy
• math
• maths
• mathematics
• elearning
• e-learning
• wiki
• wikis