Collaborative Learning using Wiki and FlexNetDiscuss: A Pilot Study

The pedagogical benefits of debate in learning have been studied extensively in cognitive and educational sciences.  To be successful in a debate, the learners have to research and reflect critically on the topic,argument and verify the different viewpoints, understand the argumentative patterns of other cultures, build positive attitudes toward the intellectual exchange of ideas, and develop good skills in communication and relationship building. 

This research proposes the combined use of Wiki  and FlexNetDiscuss, as a collaborative learning platform to support online debate and its processes, and reports the evaluation of the effectiveness of the platform based on a pilot study we conducted in a short training course.