Online intercultural collaborations using wikis: An analysis of students’ comments and factors affecting project success

Abstract

Online intercultural collaborations using wiki pages are becoming common in foreign language education. However, research into their effectiveness and the types of comments students make in their interactions remains scant. This study addresses this gap by exploring three-years’ worth of interactions among Japanese students of English and American students of Japanese. The data demonstrated that the focus of students’ comments matches the overall topic of the collaboration, that interpersonal topics generate more interactions, and that logistical factors have a strong impact on the success of online collaborations. Based on these data-driven conclusions, this paper provides lessons learned and specific tips for conducting successful, online intercultural exchanges among foreign language students using wiki pages as a collaboration medium.