Guzdial 2002

[see: When collaboration doesn't work]

Looked at the use of wiki software in a variety of math, engineering and computer science courses - in which collaboration didn't occur. Some of the causes for lack of collaboration include competition between students, a sense of learned helplessness, and faculty issues. [Note: the Loo et al paper (2001) noted that computer science students with particular thinking styles didn't like giving feedback because of issues of competition].

Some reasons collaboration failed:

- large difference in skill between the students
- puzzle on which students collaborate is solved quickly (some students don't get a chance)
- some students (or courses) prefer to work alone on assignments and don't think that working together is helpful to them
- there is no need (or students don't see the need) to collaborate
- single answer questions are poor choice for collaboration because competition becomes an issue
- students may not want to seek help - they don't want to make it know that they are confused (learned helplessness)
- traditional lecture classes may not provide students with the models for what they are supposed to do in collaborative learning situations
- faculty interest in collaboration - if students don't expect to collaborate, they won't

Note: making collaboration mandatory doesn't mean that students will collaborate. In this study 40% of student chose to accept no grade rather than collaborate.