This document outlines examples of how technology can facilitate student collaboration across barriers of space and time. It discusses challenges modern students face in collaborating due to schedules, commuting, and physical separation. It then provides several case studies of how tools like wikis, blogs, video conferencing, and annotation software allow groups to work together on tasks like project design, coordination, presentations, and evaluations. The document concludes by discussing challenges of implementing these technologies and possibilities for future expansion to other activities.

1. Breaking the Bonds of Space and Time:
Facilitating Student Collaboration
Campus Technology 2009
Boston, MA
David Gannon
Enoch Park
Bryant University

2. Presentation Outline
• Background & Rational
• Pedagogical Ground
• Examples & Scenarios
• Challenges
• Findings
• Future Expansion

3. Today’s Students
• Equipped with Technology – Digital Natives
• Changed Lifestyles
• Changed Social Relationship Style
• Changed Learning Styles and Strategies

4. Today’s Students
• Would likely….
• Communicate with other students about school
projects (email, IM or Text)
• Collaborate with others
• Create and contribute new media
• Get help from online tutors
For their learning (Speak Up 2008)

5. Specific Issues
• Group Projects
• File Sharing & Team Document Editing
• Team Review Sessions
• Peer Evaluation
• Guest Speakers
• Community Involvement

6. Specific Obstacles
• Incompatible Schedules
• Commuters
• Athletic Travel Requirements
• Physical Separation of Participants
• Field Interviews

7. Pedagogical Ground
• Active Learning/ Student Ownership of Learning
• Learners are particularly engaged when they
experience feelings of autonomy,
competence, and relatedness. (Hayles, 2008)
• Collaborative Learning & Group Interaction
• Construct of New Knowledge through
Interaction

8. Pedagogical Ground
• Provide “Real World” Experiences Beyond
Classroom
• Offer Hands-on Practices and Models for
Best Practice
• 3 Stages of Development for New technology
(Rosenbloom, 1999)
• Imitation
• Incremental Improvement
• Transformation
• Increase Participation/Avoid Loafing

9. Team Building
• Task:Team Building
• Tools:
• Self Introduction Video (webcam)
• Posted as Team Wiki entry, encourage commenting each other

10. Planning and managing meetings
•Task: Planning and managing meetings
•Tools:
• Wiggio
• Outcomes:
• Setup meeting plans
• Manage communication
• File Repository
• Notifications
• Polls
• Phone bridge

12. Initial Project Design
•Task: Initial Project Design
•Approach: Wiki for brainstorming
•Tools:
•Teams LX (Learning Objects)
• PBWorks
• MediaWiki
• Outcomes:
•Team project design document
• Establish team responsibilities &
team member accountability
• Establish initial timelines

14. Team Coordination
•Task: Team Coordination
• Approach: Blog for team project updates
• Tools:
• Journal LX (Learning Objects)
• WordPress, Blogger
• Windows Live Spaces & Groups
•Outcomes:
• Team project blog
• Individual journaling
• New media writing

16. Updates on Project
•Task: Update on project from participants
• Approach: MicroBlog for team project updates
• Tools:
• Twitter
• Yammer
•Outcomes:
• Frequent updates
• Informal entries encourage participation
• Privacy control

18. Developing Project Details
•Task: Communicate, Share and
Compare Ideas
• Approach: Desktop Video Conferencing
• Tools:
• ooVoo, SightSpeed, Tokbox, IM, Skype
• Outcomes:
• Online group meetings
• Virtual office hours
• Field interviews

19. Refining Project Details
• Task: Refining Project Details
• Approach: Virtual Meetings
• Tools:
• DimDim, Elluminate, Almostmeet
• Outcomes:
• Group meetings
• Practice presentations
• Consultation & overview

21. SCOLA 2009

22. Multimedia Annotation
• Task: Share annotations and
comments online
• Approach: Multimedia annotation
• Tools:
• VoiceThread, BubblePLY, SubPLY
• Outcomes:
• Construction of ideas
• Overcome “distance”

23. SCOLA 2009

25. Presentation
• Task: Class presentations
• Approach: Live or Virtual
• Tools:
• DyKnow
• Symposium
• Wimba
• DimDim
• Outcomes:
• Class presentations
• Virtual breakout sessions

26. Evaluation
• Task: Peer Assessment of Class Work
• Approach: Peer rating, peer response &
comments
•Tools:
• Bb survey (with secure browser)
• Commenting on Wiki, Blog, Discussion board
• Outcomes:
• Peer evaluation of presentations
• Peer comments and suggestions
• Self-reflection from feedback

27. Expansion
• Business Case Building via Wiki format
• Sophomore International Experience
• Collaboration with community
organizations (Service learning projects)
• International Internship

30. Challenges
• Bandwidth – Wired vs. Wireless
• Duplicated vs. Consolidated vs.
Synchronized Storage
• User Knowledge Level/Training
Requirements
• Faculty Support
• Infrastructure Requirements

31. Questions?
Enoch Park
epark@bryant.edu
David Gannon
dgannon@bryant.edu