We perceive mobile devices to provide great opportunities in learning as they allow for flexibilizing traditional co-located teaching especially with respect to creativity. Within this paper we describe experiences with the integration of creativity techniques into collaborative process modeling. Based upon these experiences we envision an approach where mobile devices can be intertwined with interactive large screens to foster creativity in learning.

1. Institute for Applied Workscience (IAW)
Information- and Technology Management (IMTM)
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Herrmann
Mobile devices – a medium to
participate in collaborative creativity
and learning
(Thomas Herrmann, Alexander Nolte)
 Interdisciplinary research
 interactive rooms as flexibly
adaptable
spaces for Learning
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 1

2. Understanding of creativity
people behave creatively, if they try to develop something
which is considered as new in a concrete context and also as
useful by their peers.
Creativity is not a fixed personal characteristic but can be
supported and increased
Multiple Focusing –
serendipity impulses looking
playfulness
around
Multiple
variations
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 2

3. Collaborative creativity
Trust Coming
together -
going apart
Multiple perspectives are integrated in
a setting where people interact
closely within a group and have a
chance to build trust between them
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 3

4. Creativity: Mix of Divergence and
Convergence
During divergence, every idea is welcome and valued
Convergence needs the ability to enter into a discourse of
critical review, combination and variation of ideas and synergy
building.
Divergence Convergence
Mobile Devices Shared Displays
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5. Modes of collaboration and behavior
to be supported - A:
1. People communicating and / or working collaboratively on artifacts
2. People individually work on artifacts while being observed by others
(the others
 may remain in the role of observers or
 try to inspire the active person)
3. People working in solitude to prepare ideas (they
 can be focused on themselves or
 allow themselves to be distracted and /or inspired by what others
are doing).
4. Communication and collaboration can take part in the whole group or
in smaller breakout groups;
 during the meetings
(co-located, synchronously) or
 between meetings
(dislocated, asynchronous).
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 5

6. Modes of collaboration and behavior
to be supported - B:
1. People communicating and / or working collaboratively on artifacts
2. People individually work on artifacts while being observed by others
(the others
 may remain in the role of observers or
 try to inspire the active person)
3. People working in solitude to prepare ideas (they
 can be focused on themselves or
 allow themselves to be distracted and /or inspired by what others
are doing).
4. Communication and collaboration can take part in the whole group or
in smaller breakout groups;
 during the meetings
(co-located, synchronously) or
 between meetings
(dislocated, asynchronous).
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 6

7. Role of
Mobiles I:
To make this variety of modes possible and also to build
bridges between them, mobile devices
– controlled by individuals –
can be combined with large display
– representing a part of the public space.
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 7

8. Learning …
… a process where people
become familiar with existing knowledge and
practices
and eventually become a part of communities which
work on specific types of tasks.
Most of these tasks are unique in history with respect
to their situatedness.
Working on these tasks requires to construct
knowledge which is new with respect to a
community and a certain situation …  Creativity
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 8

9. Role of
Mobiles II:
 Shared Displays  used to present existing
knowledge of teachers and students
 Mobiles  used to research and construct
knowledge, to work in small groups
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10. Interaction room at the University of Bochum
integrate shared displays and mobiles –
and several kinds of artifacts
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11. Role of
Mobiles III:
Do not only support local independence and mobility but
1. Individual work as part of group meetings
2. Flexible switching between private and public spaces
3. Taking artefacts away …or bringing them into a
workshop
4. going apart and coming together
5. Using mobiles as a tool.
6. Using mobiles to interact with others
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12. Our Research: Using creativity techniques for
Developing business process models
Combining brainstorming methods with process modeling.
Several cycles of prototyping and evaluation
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 12

13. Using creativity techniques for developing
business process models
Combining brainstorming methods with process modeling.
Several cycles of empirical research and prototyping
Divergence
Convergence
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14. Features of brainstorming
based process modeling - A
1. The group can contribute to not only one but to several
brainstorming topics simultaneously
2. Every element of an existing process model (or any other kind of
document) may be completed within a short brainstorming cycle
3. The participants can see a list of their own contributions and can
complete them by adding comments afterwards.
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 14

15. Features of brainstorming
based process modeling - B
1. The group can contribute to not only one but to several
brainstorming topics simultaneously
2. Every element of a process model (or any other kind of
document) may be completed within a short
brainstorming cycle
3. The participants can see a list of their own contributions
and can complete them by adding comments
afterwards.
4. The facilitator can influence the brainstorming process
by submitting prepared prompts which inspire the
participants
5. and by opening or closing brainstorming sessions on a
certain topic while other topics are going on.
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16. Role of Mobiles IV - A:
Results from creative process modeling experiments:
Usage of mobiles Usage of the large screen
 Entering the own ideas  Displaying the whole group’s
contributions
 Receiving coordinative hints  Presenting the result of the
for the collaboration collaborative process
 Collecting items  Structuring collections of items
 Browsing in research spaces  Presenting
 Introducing the own  Sharing experience and
experience and examples examples
 Triggering other participants  Triggering the group
 Entering feedback  Displaying feedback
 Commenting  Displaying comments
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 16

17. Role of Mobiles IV - B:
Results from creative process modeling experiments:
Usage of mobiles Usage of the large screen
 Entering the own ideas  Displaying the whole group’s
contributions
 Receiving coordinative hints  Presenting the result of the
for the collaboration collaborative process
 Collecting items  Structuring collections of items
 Browsing in research spaces  Presenting
 Introducing the own  Sharing experience and
experience and examples examples
 Triggering other participants  Triggering the group
 Entering feedback  Displaying feedback
 Commenting  Displaying comments
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 17

18. Steps of a scenario - A
presentation Adding ideas to Annotating
of existing the presented contributions
knowledge material via of others
brainstorming
Triggering
Plenary Continuous
role taking
discussions feedback
To teacher / Initiating
facilitator reflection
Work in via
breakout Distribu- brainstor
groups ting ming
Adapting coordi-
the colla- native
Work in boration hints
solitude modes
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 18

19. Steps of a scenario - B
presentation Adding ideas to Annotating
of existing the presented contributions
knowledge material via of others
brainstorming
Triggering
Plenary Continuous
role taking
discussions feedback
To teacher / Initiating
facilitator reflection
Work in via
breakout Distribu- brainstor
groups ting ming
Adapting coordi-
the colla- native
Work in boration hints
solitude modes
Thomas Herrmann EC-Tel 2012 – Workshop MLCW12 19

20. Creativity and Experience design
Mobiles can be used to emphasize
 playfulness
 contingency,
 surprising effects
 autonomy
 Spontaneous interaction /side talks with others in
the classroom
 revising presented material
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21. Further background
in D. Randall; P. Salembier (Hrsg.): From CSCW
to Web 2.0, Springer, Berlin, S.65-95. 2010.
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