Supporting exam revision via Google talk and Examopedia wiki

摘要

This work highlights the benefits of tapping into one of many informal learning activities in which students engage, namely use of past papers for exam revision. Exams can be both stressful and isolating for students. This paper presents a novel approach to exam revision via a ‘wiki’ and ‘Google talk’ which the author calls ‘Examopedia’. This approach benefits both from cooperative and constructivist learning. We show how students form an online community of practice around this informal learning activity providing peer-support for each other. It is well known that peer interactions, online or face to face, can encourage deep learning. Using Examopedia, students can prepare together for an exam. When using Examopedia on their own, students found conflicting answers a problem. However, the tutor used Examopedia with the students to give them timely guidance. Examopedia gives a new opportunity to facilitate revision through timely formative feedback and guidance. It also allows ‘Just in time’ teaching where needed. We find Examopedia to be a blend of teacher and student centric learning activities. We present analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data collected for two groups of students (N=38 and N=58) at Level M and Level 1 of their engineering degree.