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Article
Integrating Gallery Walks and Wikis in a Synergic Instructional Activity: An Exploratory Study of Students' Perceptions
Computers in Education Journal
  • John Patrick Hogan, Missouri University of Science and Technology
  • Dan Cernusca
Abstract

The effectiveness of classroom-based active learning environments in transferring their benefits outside the classroom remains nebulous. We present exploratory results of students' perceptions of a synergic integration of Gallery Walks (an active learning strategy) with a course Wiki (a collaborative Web 2.0 tool). This integration was designed to extend the benefits of active learning beyond the classroom and into a more permanent and accessible digital learning community. An anonymous exit survey was administered online at the end of the course to measure students' perceptions on the impact of this instructional strategy. The survey used an involvement scale for both Gallery Walks and Wikis, and a series of open-ended questions regarding the strengths and weaknesses of these two instructional tools. A one-sample t-Test using the middle of the scale (the lecture involvement) as the test value indicated a statistical significant higher involvement for the Gallery Walk than the lecture. No statistically significant difference between Wikis and lectures was found. These findings indicate that students perceived Gallery Walks as out-of-norm-classroom activities, while Wikis were perceived more as an extension of the classroom activities. Students' open-ended feedback on the two instructional tools complemented these quantitative findings.

Department(s)
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Keywords and Phrases
  • Active Learning,
  • Active Learning Environment,
  • Classroom Activity,
  • Digital-Learning,
  • Exploratory Studies,
  • Instructional Strategy,
  • Instructional Tool,
  • Open-Ended Questions,
  • Statistically Significant Difference,
  • Web 2.0, School Buildings,
  • Students,
  • Surveys,
  • User Interfaces,
  • Web Services,
  • Teaching
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2011 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
12-1-2011
Publication Date
01 Dec 2011
Disciplines
Citation Information
John Patrick Hogan and Dan Cernusca. "Integrating Gallery Walks and Wikis in a Synergic Instructional Activity: An Exploratory Study of Students' Perceptions" Computers in Education Journal Vol. 21 Iss. 4 (2011) p. 37 - 48 ISSN: 1069-3769
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/john-hogan/16/