title: Use and acceptance of Wiki systems for students of veterinary medicine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Wiki systems are gaining importance concerning the use in education, especially among young users. The aim of our study was to examine, how students of veterinary medicine commonly use wiki systems, whether they consider a veterinary wiki system useful and if they would participate in writing content.
  
  
  METHODS
  For data collection a questionnaire was provided to students (n=210) of the faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. It contained questions regarding the use of Wikipedia in general and concerning educational issues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most respondents, especially students in the first years, had comprehensive experience in the use of Wikipedia and veterinary wiki systems. In contrast, the experience in writing or editing of information was low (8.6% Wikipedia, 15.3% veterinary wiki systems). Male students had significantly more writing experience than females (p=0,008). In addition, students of the higher years were more experienced in writing and editing than students of the first year (7.4% in the 4(th) year). The familiarity with wiki systems offered by universities was low. The majority of students (96.2%) are willing to use veterinary wiki systems as an information tool in the future. Nevertheless, only a low percentage is willing to write or edit content. Many students, however, expect a better learning success when writing own texts. In general, students consider the quality of information in a wiki system as correct.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, wiki systems are considered a useful tool to gain information. This will lead to a successful implementation of wiki systems in veterinary education. A main challenge will be to develop concepts to activate students to participate not only in reading but in the writing and editing process.
authors: FU Berlin, Tierklinik für Fortpflanzung, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors: Darius
authors: D
authors: Kolski
authors: Sebastian
authors: S
authors: Arlt
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Birk
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Heuwieser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001604:Berlin; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003625:Data Collection; D004520:Education, Veterinary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: e-learning; university; veterinary education; wiki