alt-c 2014: google, facebook, whatsapp and other giants
TRANSCRIPT
@sidavis21
Google, Facebook,
WhatsApp and other
Giants
Supporting collaboration through technology;
implications of student use and perceptions
University of York
@sidavis21
Outline
The problem
● Business planning - collaboration and use of
technology
The solution
● Encourage planned use of Google or other
viable tools
The responses
● Mid / end surveys (n=75, n=22)
Conclusions / implications
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Collaboration in Business Planning
● Large, core 2nd year Management module
● Challenges for collaborative group work: o Prior experience of group work
o Opportunist vs strategic use of technology
o Suitability of some preferred platforms
IPR / privacy
Access (Overseas)
Inclusivity
Privacy
Professionalism
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Intervention: Supporting planned
use of technology
● Use of technology remains student led
● Availability of Google apps highlighted;o Information within opening lecture
o Follow up familiarisation tasks
Create groups, share and edit documents
o Support / consultation offered
● Formative assignment; draft business plano Include Group Communication plan
o Feedback provided on viability
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Evaluation: Importance of planning
98% (n=77) agreed collaborative strategy for
use of technology
84% found this useful / very useful“Meant we could understand what and where to share on which type of
technology. i.e. share a doc over google docs or Facebook. Before
collaboration we didn't know where everything was posted.”
“Ensuring we used technology meant we were perhaps more
encouraged to communicate with each other, and made it a lot easier
to do so.”
“We did not agree on a strategy beforehand, although one developed
throughout the project. Not advisable albeit successful in our group.”
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Evaluation: Challenges
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Evaluation: Challenges
Group participation (12)● “No one replying/ignoring messages on Facebook!”
Google familiarity (11)● Originally just understanding how to use new tools, but after no issues
encountered
Google functional / technical issues (8)● Google docs not as comprehensive as Word
Equal access to technology (7)● “Some of the group members did not use such tools as Whatsapp or
Facebook, hence we had to choose different channels of communication”
Lack of understanding / planning (2)
General technical problems (2)
Right tool for the job (1)
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Evaluation: use of tools, mid (n=77)
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Evaluation: other tools used so far
WhatsApp (7)
Phone (3)
MS Office (2)
Skype
Dropbox
“We chat”
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Evaluation: use of tools, end (n=22)
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Evaluation: important functionality
to support collaboration
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Evaluation: Impact on future
collaboration
“Will your use of technology in this module affect your
approach to collaborative work in the future?”
● Mid point (n=65): 89%
● End point (n=22): 86%
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Evaluation: Impact on future
collaboration
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“I had not used Google drive before, so for future group
work I shall use Google drive to share & collaboratively
work on documents”
“I am now aware of useful tools previously unaware of that
may be useful for future group work”
“Google groups and docs is AMAZING!”
“Find common platform from the start”
“Make sure everyone agrees on the types of
communication to maximise clarity.”
“Unless future group members suggest the use of
additional collaborative tools, I don't think I will have the
initiative to use them.”
“I think the technology I used helped me work as a part of a
group, in terms of communicating, problem solving and
organising our work.”
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Broad conclusions
● Planned use of collaborative technologies
supports collaborative group work
● Without intervention students will stick to
what they know
● “Light touch” intervention can be effective
without disempowering students
● Students are (generally) conservative in their
use of technology
● Successful use of collaborative tools can
support the development of transferable
employability skills