The document describes a web-based groupware called iPBL that was introduced to support project-based learning. iPBL provides both a content management system and project management system. It allows students to easily share documents and helps project managers track project schedules and tasks. Based on qualitative evaluations, iPBL was found to effectively support collaborative work among students and help teachers monitor student activities and outputs. While some improvements are still needed, iPBL provides an effective online environment for project-based learning.

1. Web-based groupware
supporting PBL effectively
Advanced Institute
of Industrial Technology
(産業技術大学院大学)
Y.Chubachi,Y.Kato,Y.Tozawa
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 1 /12

2. Agenda
• Web-based groupware for PBL
– Background
– Method
– Result
– Conclusion
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 2 /12

3. WEB-BASED GROUPWARE
FOR PBL
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 3 /12

4. Background
• We assume that adequate groupware is required in
order to provide a more effective learning
environment to students for a Project-Based
Learning.
• Especially, a project management system and a
contents management system are keys to increase
educational effectiveness.
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 4 /12

5. Methods
• Web-based groupware named “iPBL: infrastructure
for PBL” was introduced in 2008
– It has been used for the project-based learning subjects of
our institute
– The total number of users is about one hundred and fifty
since the introduction
• We performed a qualitative evaluation to confirm
how we could provide an effective learning
environment for the students
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 5 /12

6. iPBL: Infrastructure for PBL
• Using ICT to provide the supporting environment for PBL
– We introduced a groupware in order to support the teamwork
activity for both the PBL students and the professors
– The groupware provides a kind of a knowledge management
system
• The knowledge on the iPBL is divided into 2 aspects
– As the contents management system
• The students and professors can easily share the documents over the
web
– As the project managements system
• Project members can share the project's schedule based on the work
breakdown structure with a special application software
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 6 /12

7. iPBL: Overview
Professor
- Tracking the progress of PBL
- Checking their time of activities Project Manager (student)
- Checking their results - Planning
- Progress management
iPBL:
contents management:
workspace, files and folders
- project management:
such as Gantt chart and tasks
powered by MS Project Server 2007
and SharePoint Services Member (student)
- Reporting their progress
- Checking their tasks
- sharing risk, issue and results
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 7 /12

8. iPBL: Snapshot
Dashboard and
Bulletin Board
Project name
and Tasks Project management:
Gantt chart
Contents management:
documents, etc.
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 8 /12

9. Results 1/2
• With iPBL, tasks of students are able to be managed
by a project manager
– using a Gantt chart style calender which visually shows
the progress of a project
• Issues and risks in a project can be managed with
iPBL
• Moreover, students can easily share their document
files which are produced through the project with
the contents management function of iPBL.
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 9 /12

10. Result 2/2
• We confirmed that these functions help the students
do their teamwork.
– In particular, when a student is in a distant place, the
system supports collaborative work with other students
well
• In addition to these results, it appears as a significant
effect for teachers
– Because they can grasp the situation of the students’
activities clearly and access the outputs made by the
students anytime with this system.
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 10 /12

11. Conclusion
• These results show that our groupware provides an
effective project-based learning environment not only
for students but also for teachers
• Although some improvements are needed, iPBL can
be a model of the computer-supported educational
environment for the project-based learning method
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 11 /12

12. Thank you for your attention
Contact: yc@aiit.ac.jp
Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology
Public University Corporation of Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Higashi Ooi 1-10-40, Shinagawa, Tokyo, 140-0011, Japan
http://aiit.ac.jp/english/
THANK YOU
Copyright © by Y.Chubachi, 2011 12 /12