Wikis and Collaborative Learning: Learned (and to Learn) Lessons in the School of Education

Abstract

The European Space of Higher Education (ESHE) has lead European Universities – Spanish Universities among them – to methodological changes in its conformation to the Bologna Process. These educational environments imply a new conceptualization of teaching where the New Technologies that support the teaching-learning processes play a leading role. In this current scenario, a community of faculty members at the College of Education and Social Work at the University of Valladolid (Spain) have developed a wiki-based innovation in an undergraduate course on ICT to preservice teachers. The roots of this innovation can be found in previous Computer Supported Collaborative Learning experiences carried out by the same group of teachers. This paper analyzes how a course following an Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) approach supported by an ad hoc wiki learning platform contributes to promote collaboration and critical thinking among students.