New Collaboration Technologies for Implementing Problem-based Learning

1
New Collaboration Technologies for Implementing
Problem-based Learning

• Mark A. Serva
• Assistant Professor of MIS
• University of Delaware
• Institute for Transforming Undergraduate
  Education
• July 21, 2006 PBL Conference

2
Why Should Students Use Collaboration Technology
(CT)?

• Students are teamed to death
• More students are working and are constrained in
  their available time
• Organizations are using this systems to manage
  knowledge
• Helps students organize their projects
• Easy to use

3
Why Should You Use Collaboration Technology?

• Organization Students post their assignments in
  one location
• Less student frustration
• Facilitating collaboration encourages
  collaboration
• The technology is becoming easier to use
• Increased student awareness of the possibilities

4
Synchronous versus Asynchronous CT

• Synchronous or Same Time interaction
• Brainstorming
• File exchange
• Project Management/Keeping in Touch
• AsynchronousDifferent Time Interaction
• Development of project deliverables over time
• Project repositoryproject files, time tables,
  assignments
• Gradual development of project ideas
• Project Management/Setting of Tasks and Goals

5
Background on my Class

• Classes
• 2 Sections of Managing IT Personnel
• Focus on the Management of Remote Employees
• All Seniors who had taken at least 2 technology
  classes
• Synchronous Technology MSN Instant Messenger
• Asynchronous Technologies SharePoint MediaWiki

6
How Students UsedMSN Instant Messenger

• Integrated Chat
• Video Conferencing
• File Exchange
• Whiteboard
• Interactive development of pictures and graphics
• Good for brainstorming

7
My Use of IM/MSN Messenger

• Students could contact me during designated hours
  (virtual office hours)
• Easier to ask questions over IM than in person
• File exchange allowed me to review progress
• Decreased physical traffic in my office
• MSN Messenger integrates with SharePoint

8
MSN Demo
9
Asynchronous CollaborationSharePoint MediaWiki

• SharePoint
• Included with Windows Server 2003
• Team Repository that integrates with Office 2003
• MediaWiki
• Open source application for implementing Wikis

10
SharePoint Demo
11
SharePoint the Good and Bad

• ? Setting up and configuring SharePoint will
  probably require the assistance of your network
  admin
• ? You will need a server, but it doesnt require
  a lot of power
• Mine 930 MHz, 512 MB RAM for one class of 30
• ? Creating and modifying SharePoint sites is easy
• ? Integration with Office is very easy
• ? Great for collaborating with colleagues on
  research projects!

12
What Is a Wiki?

• A collaborative web-based environment for sharing
  ideas
• Technology is simple to learn and easy to use
• I love it because it forces students to think and
  evaluate what others have written
• The most famous Wiki is Wikipedia, which uses the
  MediaWiki software

13
The Wiki Philosophy

• All Wiki users have an inherent right to change
  anothers work
• Along with this right comes an expectation of
  mutual respect and trust. Use the Wiki to move
  toward a coherent and effective source of
  knowledgenot as a battleground for divergent
  opinions.
• Wikis epitomize collaboration without personal
  interaction.
• One of the founders of Wikipedia once stated,
  The only way you can write something that
  survives in a Wiki is that someone whos your
  diametrical opposite can agree with it. In
  other words, don't dictatecollaborate!

14
Wiki Demo
15
Notes About Wikis

• The main requirement for effective Wiki
  collaboration is said to be trusti.e., that
  participants will not act out of malice but out
  of a mutual desire to create an effective product
  that reflects multiple perspectives.
• Wikis are asynchronous tools A Wiki page cannot
  be edited by more than one user at a time.
• Instructors can track which students have
  participated and the extent of their
  participation
• Wiki access must be restricted by ID and password

16
Final Suggestions

• Because students will increasingly rely on IT to
  communicate in their jobs, incorporate CT into
  your classes
• CT can facilitate PBL by encouraging students to
  think and evaluate each others work
• The opportunities for leveraging CT are
  unprecedented
• Students are increasingly aware of CT and use it
  in their daily interaction