ERIC Number: ED428706
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1998-Jun
Pages: 7
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Supporting Awareness for Augmenting Participation in Collaborative Learning.
Ogata, Hiroaki; Yano, Yoneo
This paper describes Coconuts (Concurrent Collaborative Learning Environment Supported by Awareness), a proposed module of Sharlok (Sharing, Linking and Looking-for Knowledge), an open-ended and collaborative learning environment that integrates a knowledge building tool with a collaborative interface tool. Coconuts was developed in order to support knowledge awareness (KA) during collaborative learning with Sharlok. Topics discussed include: collaborative learning in an open group, including an open-ended collaborative learning environment, the time dimension of open-ended collaborative learning, and the taxonomy of participation; an overview of Sharlok as a personal and collaborative learning environment; an overview of KA; and an overview of Coconuts, including features, system configuration, and the user interface. Results of an evaluation of Coconuts, in which nine master course students used Sharlok for 4 hours--2 hours unsupported by Coconuts and 2 hours supported by Coconuts--are presented. It is concluded that provision of awareness facilitates participation in multiple and concurrent collaboration and reduces wasteful formal participation, and that informal communication activates collaboration. A table categorizes collaborative learning in a closed versus open group, and five figures present a diagram of open-ended collaboration, the participation form of concurrent collaboration, the system configuration, screens of Coconuts in Sharlok, and frequency of participation results. Contains 12 references. (DLS)
Descriptors: Classification, Computer Assisted Instruction, Computer Interfaces, Computer Mediated Communication, Computer Software Development, Computer Software Evaluation, Computer System Design, Cooperative Learning, Courseware, Educational Environment, Educational Technology, Foreign Countries, Higher Education, Multimedia Instruction, Multimedia Materials, Perception, Student Participation, Virtual Classrooms, World Wide Web
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture, Tokyo (Japan).
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A