Title: Web 2.0 project-based learning in higher education: some preliminary evidence

Authors: Francesca Grippa, Giustina Secundo

Addresses: e-Business Management Section, Scuola Superiore ISUFI, University of Salento, via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy. ' e-Business Management Section, Scuola Superiore ISUFI, University of Salento, via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy

Abstract: This paper develops an understanding of how Web 2.0 applications can be utilised to support a Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach. Creating communities in the classroom has been the traditional method of engaging students. Web 2.0 technologies are changing the way dispersed learning communities interact. To provide preliminary evidence on this, we have designed a Social Computing Environment (SCE) to support a community of students coming from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Jordan and involved in an International Master|s Programme in e-Business Management (IMeBM). This study suggests that Web 2.0 tools enhance learning effectiveness in terms of learners| satisfaction, knowledge creation and learning performance. The preliminary results suggest that learners prefer to utilise wikis more than blogs to collaborate with peers, tutors and mentors.

Keywords: Web 2.0 applications; project-based learning; PBL; social computing environment; SCE; learning communities; learning effectiveness; higher education; universities; Morocco; Tunisia; Egypt; Jordan; e-business management; e-business education; electronic business; wikis; learner satisfaction, knowledge creation; learning performance; collaborative learning; blogs; weblogs; international students.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWBC.2009.028089

International Journal of Web Based Communities, 2009 Vol.5 No.4, pp.543 - 561

Published online: 04 Sep 2009 *

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