Use and impact of the open source online editor Etherpad in a psychology students’ statistics class

Abstract

The Etherpad is an open source online editor providing the possibility for collaborative writing and discussions in real-time via a shared link. Previous research has shown that the use of technology in higher education can be effective and that online editors can facilitate collaborative learning. This article outlines the use of the Etherpad in a psychology Master’s students’ statistics class. During the lecture, students asked and answered questions in the Etherpad, followed the discussion of others, and/or gave general comments on the lecture and its topics. A tutor and the lecturer acted as moderators of the Etherpad. For evaluative purposes, students’ participation in the Etherpad and their feedback in a mixed-methods survey were investigated. In all, 50 out of 90 students attending the course sessions participated in the evaluation. Students’ commitment and feedback were very positive. We conclude by discussing implications of the Etherpad use for lecturers teaching statistics.