title: Using wikis to stimulate collaborative learning in two online health sciences courses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of wiki technology fits well in courses that encourage constructive knowledge building and social learning by a community of learners. Pedagogically, wikis have attracted interest in higher education environments because they facilitate the collaborative processes required for developing student group assignments.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes a pilot project to assess the implementation of wikis in two online small- and mid-sized elective courses comprising nursing students in third- or fourth-year undergraduate levels within interdisciplinary health sciences courses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The need exists to further develop the pedagogical use of wiki environments before they can be expected to support collaboration among undergraduate nursing students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adapting wiki implementation to suitable well-matched courses will make adaptation of wikis into nursing curricula more effective and may increase the chances that nursing students will hone the collaborative abilities that are essential in their future professional roles in communities of practice.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zitzelsberger
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Service
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sanchez
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D020407:Internet; D007858:Learning; D010865:Pilot Projects