Title: Students' Perceptions and Challenges in Integrating Wiki-based Collaborative Writing into EFL Writing Classes at Addis Ababa Science and Technology University
Authors: Mr. Befikadu Lemma Yibreh and Dr. Berhanu Bogale Haile
Volume: 5
Issue: 12
Pages: 79-97
Publication Date: 2021/12/28
Abstract:
The focus of this research was to look at 19 engineering students from Addis Ababa Science and Technology University's perceptions on wiki-based collaborative writing and the challenges they experienced while utilizing the wiki. These were first-year engineering students chosen at random from 40 sections. For 5 weeks, the participants were enrolled in a noncredit essay-writing course that was linked with the wiki platform. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect data. All students completed questionnaires, and five were chosen at random for FGD. We gathered quantitative and qualitative information regarding students' perceptions of wiki-based collaborative writing and the challenges they faced. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and mean were used to analyze the quantitative data. To analyze the data, themes regarding students' perceptions such as benefits of using a wiki, technological self-efficacy of using a wiki, and sociability in a wiki, as well as challenges they experienced during the process of using a wiki such as psychological and functional challenges, were developed. According to the findings, students viewed the use of wiki-based collaborative writing to develop their writing abilities favorably. During the wiki process in the writing classes, both psychological and functional challenges were observed. As a result, EFL writing skills teachers should carefully train students on how to use social media like a wiki in their curricula.