Language learning in a wiki: Student contributions in a web based learning environment

Emerging social writing platforms offer possibilities for language learners to collaboratearound joint assignments. One such environment is the wiki, generally hosting two prominentmodes of usage, web pages and discussion forums. This study investigates softwareengineering students’ use of a wiki as an integrated tool within the frames of a languagecourse. The purpose of the case study was to investigate the student interaction in a studentdriven design setting and what the implications are for language learning in such anenvironment. The findings show that the two modes of interaction host primarily three typesof activity, contributing and writing together, evaluating and peer reviewing, and arguing anddiscussing. These three activities convey different ways of collaborating and sharing textonline. Once a group had chosen a mode for their collaboration, they tend to stay with itthroughout their work.