Laru, J., Järvelä, S. (2003). Applying Wireless Technology For Coordinating Collaboration In Distributed University Teachers’ Team. In B. Wasson, S. Ludvigsen, & U. Hoppe (Eds.), Designing for Change in Networked Learning Environments. Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer Support for Collaborative Learning (CSCL) 2003 (pp. 77-79. Dordrecht: Kluwer

1. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to develop a pedagogical model other 5 worked in a remote rural area. The teachers had a joint goal for collaboration
for using wireless technology in geographically distributed team work and an authentic need to plan and coordinate a virtual Master’s programme. In
and analyse how distributed collaboration can be enhanced with handheld this study the special aim was to support the team members’ coordination of
wireless technologies and knowledge building tools. The theoretical ideas of collaboration with handheld wireless computers in a specific period of their work. A
distributed cognition and collaborative learning were applied for developing special mobile knowledge building tool was implemented at enhancing knowledge
the pedagogical model of mobile learning. The subjects of the study were 10 building using mobile computing. The subjects were interviewed and computer
university teachers in Finland. 5 teachers worked in the university while the generated database were collected for analyzing the quality of collaboration.
WIRCO . . . . Applying wireless technology
for co-ordinating collaboration
JARI LARU SANNA JÄRVELÄ
jari.laru@oulu.fi sanna.jarvela@oulu.fi in distributed university teacher’s team
INTRODUCTION EXPERIMENT IN THE NORTHERN FINLAND
Handheld computers will become compelling choice of technology The subject of the study were 10 university teachers 5 teachers worked in
for learning because they will enable a transition from occasional, the University while the other 5 worked in remote rural area. They had a
supplemental use to frequent, integral use. The early evaluations joint goal for collaboration and an authentic need to plan and coordinate
have suggested that there are positive effects on learning. Recently a virtual Master’s programme in Information Sciences. The period of
this phenomena has been called mobile learning and there is an data collection was planned to be one of the most critical phases in
increased discussion going on around this theme. The simplest their distributed collaboration and the nature of their task was complex,
way to define mobile learning is “learning trough mobile de- new and knowledge intensive. In this experiment the special aim was to
vices” . It has been questioned if mobile learning is only a com- support the team members’ coordination of collaboration with handheld
mercial trick or passing fad. Yet, the most important question is wireless computers in a specific period of their work.
whether mobile learning has a sufficient pedagogical definition. The field study for this project lasted four weeks. Handhelds
equipped with wireless connection to the Internet were given to people
KNOWLEDGE BUILDING WITH HANDHELDS who were participating in this experiment. In order to foster active
production of knowledge, subjects were responsible for producing all
Collaborative learning and knowledge building is seen as one of the
knowledge in the database (Hakkarainen, Lipponen & Järvelä, 2002). The
most meaningful ways to support individual learning mechanisms with
interviews and computer generated database were collected during the
the help of the social and interactive learning (Bereiter & Scardmalia,
June 2002 and the quality of collaboration were analysed in order to find
1989; Dillenbourg, 1999). The benefits of technology for collaboration out the nature of knowledge constructed, shared and discussed during the
and knowledge building comes from the advantage of effective collaboration period.
thinking tools available (Bereiter & Scardmalia, 1989) and shared
knowledge resource as computer database available. REVIEW OF RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
FLE3mobile is based on FLE environment (http:
//fle3.uiah.fi), which has been originally made in University of Arts In order to progress in research on “mobile learning” more specific
and Design Helsinki. For the FLE3mobile the user interface had to and wider multidisciplinary collaboration as well as more specific
be converted to be applicaple with handhelds (figure 1). FLE can be theory-based pedagogical model is needed. Although the subjects used
used for building, articulating, exploring, and structuring knowledge. handhelds creatively as cognitive tools they did’t use devices for building
The most important part of FLE is the Knowledge Building tool, knowledge. For example, many of the subjects used handhelds to write
where knowledge building discussion is scaffolded and structured by down personal notes.
knowledge types, which label the thinking mode of each discussion In general, the subjects were eager to test the handhelds, and
note. (Kligyte & Leinonen, 2002; Hakkarainen, Lipponen & Järvelä, wanted to investigate how those devices could be useful in their work. The
2002). main findings from the field study shows several factors that affected the
usage of FLE3mobile.
AIMS
§ Differences in between the workgroups: Some of workers kept
1. To apply the theoretical ideas of collaborative learning and contact together and the others didn’t.
cognitive tools to a pedagogical model for mobile learning. § It’s not possible to change daily routines and work culture by
2. To analyse how distributed collaboration can be enhanced one experiment. If people are used to make phonecall or send email,
with handheld wireless technologies and knowledge building it’s not easy to change those habits.
tools. § Because the theories of knowledge building and problem
solving are new, implementation of those theories to the use of
innovative technology can be difficult.
REFERENCES
Bereiter, C. & Scardamalia, M. (1989). Intentional learning as a goal of instruction. In L. B. Resnick (eds.),
Knowing, learning, and instruction. Essays in honour of Robert Glaser (pp. 361-392). Hillsdale, NJ:
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Dillenbourg, P. (1999). Introduction: What do you mean by collaborative learning? In P.Dillenbourg (eds.)
Collaborative learning: Cognitive and computational approaches. Amsterdam: Pergamon, 1-19.
FLE3 - Future Learning Environment, http://fle3.uiah.fi
Hakkarainen, K., Lipponen, L., & Järvelä, S. (2002). Epistemology of inquiry and computer-supported
collaborative learning. In T. Koschmann, N. Miyake, & R. Hall (Eds.), CSCL2: Carrying Forward the
Conversation (pp.129-156). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
Kligyte, G. & Leinonen, T. (2003) Future Learning Environment for Collaborative Knowledge Building and
Design. [Online] Development by design : 2nd International Conference on Open Collaborative Design
of Sustainable Innovation. December 1-2, Bangalore, India, 2002. [13.2.2003] Available in pdf-format:
http:// www.thinkcycle.org/dyd02/, Read 13.2.2003
Figure 1. [LEFT: ORIGINAL VERSION OF FLE. RIGHT: FLE3MOBILE]
������
����������������������������������������
Jari Laru Sanna Järvelä
jari.laru@oulu.fi sanna.järvelä@oulu.fi
Research unit for Research unit for
Educational technology Educational technology
University of Oulu, Finland University of Oulu, Finland
������������������ �����������������������������