Evaluating Wiki as a tool to promote quality academic writing

In this study we investigated undergraduate teacher trainees' use of wikis, focusing on

the use of shared spaces to communicate ideas and generate course specific content.
We explored how students, through such activities, were to able to improve their
academic writing skills. We discuss writing as a social practice and discuss how wikis
might promote better academic writing. With data derived from student discussion
boards and a post-module e-mail questionnaire (N=35) our findings indicate that most
students raised their skill level in writing as a result of using the wiki space.
Collaborative writing was limited due to students' reluctance to change each others'
work, but students appreciated the shared environment to discuss the course. Students
reported their academic writing skills improved through use of the wiki.