This document summarizes a collaboration project between Florida A&M University and Midwestern State University that used Web 2.0 technologies like blogs, wikis, and surveys to investigate student political beliefs across distance. Students created a survey on college student elections that received 900 responses. The data showed that students found wikis more effective than blogs for collaboration, but lacked comfort with these tools. To improve future projects, the researchers concluded that instructors need to design technology use around learning goals and provide more scaffolding to help students apply tools in other contexts.

1. Using Web 2.0 Technologies to Facilitate Learning: A student collaboration project between Florida A&M University and Midwestern State University Ms. Mitzi Lewis Midwestern State University Dr. LaRae M. Donnellan, APR, CPRC Florida A&M University

2. Objectives Investigate usefulness of Web 2.0 technologies to facilitate learning across distance Use Internet survey to explore college student political beliefs

3. Net Generation Social Technographics Profile Measures technology use NetGens: Creators, Critics, Collectors Diffusion of Innovations Perceived attributes Type of innovation-decision Communication channels Nature of social system Extent of change agent’s promotion efforts

4. 1. Identifying Research Area “ College Student Election Survey”

5. Web 2.0 Tools Teleconference E-mail Blog Wiki SurveyMonkey

6. College Student Election Survey Created in summer 2008 22 questions Political leanings Preferences Issues How learned about the survey 900 responses

7. 2. Gathering Data Tracking student participation on blog & wiki Soliciting feedback via classroom discussions Soliciting feedback via survey Communicating regularly via e-mail & phone

8. Blog Use Blogs – Confident in abilities to use Blogs – Effective way to communicate w/ team Response % No. Strongly disagree 0.0% 0 Disagree 0.0% 0 Neutral 15.0% 3 Agree 55.5% 11 Strongly agree 30.0% 6 Response % No. Strongly disagree 10.0% 4 Disagree 35.0% 7 Neutral 35.0% 7 Agree 15.0% 3 Strongly disagree 5.0% 1

9. Wiki Use Wiki – Confident in abilities to use Wikis – Effective way to communicate w/ team Response % No. Strongly disagree 0.0% 0 Disagree 0.0% 0 Neutral 20.0% 4 Agree 60.0% 12 Strongly agree 20.0% 4 Response % No. Strongly disagree 20.0% 4 Disagree 20.0% 4 Neutral 40.0% 8 Agree 10.0% 2 Strongly agree 10.0% 2

10. Would You Collaborate Again? Interested in future collaborative projects with students at other universities Response % No. Strongly disagree 15.0% 3 Disagree 15.0% 3 Neutral 10.0% 2 Agree 35.0% 7 Strongly agree 25.0% 5

11. 3. Interpreting Data Wiki more effective than blog Ease of use Comfort level Understanding potential Collaboration Not “natural” Didn’t work

12. 4. Acting on Evidence Mid-project adjustments More class structure Scaffolding

13. 5. Evaluating Results Creating effective teams is challenging – especially at a distance. SM tools not seen as valuable. More structured instruction? Motivation Consequences

14. 6. Conclusions Design technology use around learning objectives. Use “scaffolding” – Show students how to apply tools in other contexts.

15. Observations/Future Research Role of competing SM activities going on at the same time: TubeTheVote e-zine.

16. Observations/Future Research 2. Role of race & ethnicity in the adoption of Web 2.0 tools in educational setting.