Research on collaborative Learning Environments as Socio-technical Systems

1
Research on collaborative Learning Environments
as Socio-technical Systems

• at
• University of Bochum, Germany
• Interdisciplinary Center of Applied Work
  Science
• Information and Technology Management
• Thomas Herrmann

VMT-CSCL Workshop At Philadelphia
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The Collaborative Learning Environment K2

1. Based on a context-oriented model of human
   communication
2. Annotations serve as a means of communication and
   are embedded into the learning material which
   serves as context
3. A single statement as every kind of items in K2
   can have multiple authors
4. Decisions can be negotiated by means of
   discussion support and voting
5. K2 is a follower of the system Kolumbus which was
   empirically investigated in real learning
   settings.
6. K2 supports a combination of Collaborative
   Learning and Knowledge Management

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The socio-technical system approach

• For successful learning, the technical component
  of CSCL has to be combined with
• Organizational procedures
• Facilitation
• Training as preparation for using the system and
  for coordinating the learner interaction
• The procedure of collaborative learning and its
  coordination should be explicitly prepared in
  participatory workshops
• The results of the coordination preparation
  should be continuously kept present

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Process models as representational Guidance

• The procedures for collaborative learning and
  usage of the technical environment can be
  represented as process models
• Process models can serve as representational
  guidance (not about what is learnt but how the
  interaction during learning takes place)
• Process models should serve as maps, not as
  scripts

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Process model
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Research Context

• Developing patterns for socio-technical systems
• Participatory Design How can socio-technical
  walkthroughs be conducted?
• How can socio-technical systems develop
  sustainable descriptions of themselves?
• How can knowledge management systems be
  successfully introduced and knowledge integration
  be supported?
• How can different roles (such as facilitators) be
  supported in CSCL?
• How can self-directed and guided learning be
  integrated?