Collaborative TechniquesDr. Raúl V. Ramírez VelardeAt The University of ReadingMarch 2007

Agenda

Collaborative WorkPositive InterdependenceOther Elements of Collaborative WorkInteraction: Asynchronous, SynchronousActivity ModelsBeehive

Collaborative Work

This presentation is based on the following definition of Collaborative Work

A group that works together in searching for understanding, meaning or solutions or in creating a productJoint intellectual effortIn our case, mainly used as a learning tool but it is widely used for problem solving in many areas of knowledge and industry

Positive Interdependence (1/2)

The degree to which participants perceive they are interdependent in that they share a mutual fate and that their success is mutually causedIt is sort of a Musketeers:

Either we all make it or none will

It differentiates collaborative work from team work

Positive Interdependence (2/2)

Positive Interdependence can be achieved through the following

Goal sharing: learning something, solving something, discovering something, creating something

Task sharing: each individual has tasks that only he performs, thus he also depends on other for tasks he doesn’t perform

Role sharing: each individual has a special responsibility outside the scope of the problem but within the functions of the team

Information sharing: each individual possesses some critical piece of information but depends on other for other pieces of information

Elements of Collaborative Work

Clearly perceived positive interdependenceConsiderable interactionIndividual accountability and personal responsibility to achieve group goalsUse of the relevant interpersonal and small group skillsFrequent and regular group processing of current functioning to improve the group's future effectiveness

Interaction (1/2)

Individuals are encouraged to assist others in the team to complete tasks in order to reach the group's goals

Provide resources, provide advice (and describe new techniques and new ideas), provide feedback and challenge conclusions

Interaction (2/2)Interaction can be synchronous or asynchronous

Asynchronous interaction is “on-line” Internet wise but “off-line” time wise.

It eliminates time and space barriersUse e-mail, distribution lists, discussion forums, “workshop” type cross evaluation, collaborative annotation software (like MS Word “track changes”), on-line surveys (Current LMS do that)

Synchronous interaction is real-timeUntil now, only done face-to-faceThe holy grail of modern collaborative work is on-line synchronous collaborative workUntil now, only tools like Netmeeting, Messenger and video conferencing tools have been available

They just don’t cut it. They are only used for communication, not real group work

Elements of On-line Collaborative Software (in a sec)

First, we understand the other elements of collaborative workIndividual Accountability and Personal Responsibility

Everyone is expected to do their fair share of work Keep records of every one’s contributions: quality and frequencyTest every one to make sure they reached personal goalsAsk one group member to check the work of others (preferably form other teams)Have members teach what they have achieved to someone else (preferably form another group)

Small Group Skills

Get to know and trust each otherCommunicate clearlyProvide and accept supportResolve conflicts constructively

Group Processing

Group work is effective when group participants reflect on how well they function as a groupThis reflection assists members to maintain good working relationships.Reflection may focus on such things as relationships between people, facilitation of collaborative skills, rewarding of positive behavior and the celebration of success

Collaborative Software (1/2)

First GenerationOn-line, real-time interaction

Support audio, video and messaging (not much different than Skype and Netmeeting)

Whiteboard or application sharing would be very desirableSupport Positive Interdependence

Goal sharingTask sharingRole sharingInformation sharing

Collaborative Software (2/2)

Second Generation will support:Individual accountability and personal responsibilityUse of the relevant interpersonal and small group skills, such as offer and accept support, conflict resolution, measure trustFrequent and regular group processing of current functioning to improve the group's future effectiveness, evaluate a communityThat is, Web 2.0 technology

Activity Models (1/2)

Activity models establish a high interaction interdependent environment for collaborative workA collaborative software tool can achieve collaboration if it supports goal, role, task and information sharing for a subset of these activity models

Activity Models (2/2)

PyramidJigsawCoop-CoopCreative Problem Solving

Pyramid

Used on content that requires individual reflection and then multiple levels of group discussion and explanation

1. Each participant think silently about question/problem posed

2. Individual exchange thoughts with their group

3. Then they shared responses with the entire session

Jigsaw

A complex problem whose resolution requires handling information that can be divided in disjoint sets and used for the resolution of independent sub problems

1. Coordinator gives a specific period of time for each participant in the group (jigsaw group) to study a particular sub problem.

2. The participants of different groups that study the same problem meet in expert groups for exchanging ideas

3. At last, jigsaw group participants meet to solve the whole problem

Coop-CoopMake sure that all team partners are equally able on the topic

1. Select an item from the ones that make up the lesson subject that appeals to your curiosity

2. Make a relational map, graphical organizer, or any other graphical presentation and state why such item interested you

3. Make a team with two students that share your interest in the item and research further the item

1. State goals2. Divide tasks and make a plan of deliveries3. Discuss with your partners the best way to present the

subject to the rest of the class4. Make a graphical presentation demonstrating the

result of your research

Creative Problem Solving

A certain topic or problem without a specific solution whose resolution implies generating many ideas form all members in short time. Select most probable solutions

1. State the problem2. State restrictions and goals3. Create a brainstorm of ideas for problem

solutions4. Cross-pollination of ideas by team-peers5. Establish evaluation criteria for possible

solutions6. Choice evaluation

Synchronous Collaboration Software for Education

BeehiveIt uses dotLRN as platformAnd Flash Media Server for multimedia content deliveryhttp://www.weg.ee.usyd.edu.au/projects/beehive/

Beehive (1/4)

Beehive (2/4)

Collaborative Group’s Functions:Synchronous Discussion

Small Group DiscussionsEntire Session DiscussionsSimilar Roles Discussions

Collaborative Ideas Generating, Discussing, and Choosing

Ideas ListingIdeas DiscussionIdeas Voting

- Collaborative Text WritingSmall GroupEntire Session

Beehive (3/4)

Collaborative Group’s Functions:Collaborative Text Discussing and Annotating

Small GroupEntire Session

Collaborative Image Discussing and AnnotatingSmall GroupEntire Session

Entire Session Video ConferenceIce BreakingReporting Resolutions

Beehive (4/4)Participants’ Individual Functions:

Searching the InternetNotes WritingSilent ThinkingAsking for Facilitator’s Help

Facilitator’s functions:Monitoring Groups and Providing GuidanceTracking Participants’ InteractionsVocal OverviewUploading Session's Resource FileProviding a vocal slides showPresenting Short QuestionsPresenting Yes/No QuestionsPresenting SurveyProviding Session’s InfoProviding Groups’ InfoProviding Roles’ Info

Supported Activities Models

Content that requires individual reflection, peer discussion and groups solutions sharingCreate session Think Pair Share

Content that requires group discussion, peer explanation, and finally individual reflection View Simulation Create session Team Pair Solo

Knowledge sharing with a balanced participation Create session Round Table discussion

Training/ Understanding the different aspects of a topic View Simulation Create session Role Playing

Content that requires individual reflection and then group discussion and explanation View Simulation Create session Pyramid

to actively involve with problems coming from real practice View Simulation Create session Problem Based Learning PBL

Understanding and presenting different sides views Create session Pro/Contra

Content that requires presentation View Simulation Create session Presentation

Create session Online Presentation -V 1

Complex Problem solving View Simulation Create session Jigsaw

Creating and choosing the best ideas/solutions View Simulation Create session Group Nomination technique

Knowledge sharing View Simulation Create session Group Discussion

Create session Debate - A typical Cambridge format

Create session Debate - Modified Oxford format

Create session Debate -A typical Oxford format

Create session Debate -Two Person Team Debate Format

Create session Debate -Three Person Team Debate Format

A controversial topic clarification or decision making View Simulation Create session Debate

Helping participants to develop skills in identifying concerns, analyzing problems, and solutions View Simulation Create session Case Studes

A topic group discussion for a short period to gather potential solutions to a problem View Simulation Create session Buzz Group

Ideas creation in a short period View Simulation Create session Brainstorm

UsesPattern information

Supported Roles and Tasks

And Communications Tools

Second Generation of Collaborative Tools

Collaborative Software (2/2)

Second Generation will support:Individual accountability and personal responsibilityUse of the relevant interpersonal and small group skills, such as offer and accept support, conflict resolution, measure trustFrequent and regular group processing of current functioning to improve the group's future effectiveness, evaluate a community

As we said, Web 2.0 technology

So What is Web 2.0?

“…a second generation of services available on the World Wide Web that lets people collaborate and share information online” (Wikipedia12th May 2006)

A DefinitionWeb 2.0 is the network as platform, spanning all connected devices; Web 2.0 applications are those that make the most of the intrinsic advantages of that platform: delivering software as a continually-updated service that gets better the more people use it, consuming and remixing data from multiple sources, including individual users, while providing their own data and services in a form that allows remixing by others, creating network effects through an "architecture of participation," and going beyond the page metaphor of Web 1.0 to deliver rich user experiences.

Tim O'Reilly, “Web 2.0: Compact Definition?”

Web 2.0

It is a platform that is:DynamicInteractiveEngagingSyndicated

The Web 2.0 Evolution

Browsers, RSS Readers, anything

Viewed through…

Web browser

EveryoneContent Created by…

Web Coders

“dynamic”State“static”

“mass amatuerization”

Domain of…“geeks”

“Post / record”Primary Unit of content

“Page”

“Web Services”Architecture“Client Server”

“Write” & Contribute

Mode“Read”

Web 2.0(2003- beyond)

Web pages, plus a lot of other “content” shared over the web, with more interactivity;

more like an application than a “page”

Web 1.0(1993-2003)

Pretty much HTML pages viewed through a browser

Web 2.0:Web 2.0:Beyond the Blog PhenomenonBeyond the Blog Phenomenon

BlogsBlogsWikisWikis

Web ServicesWeb Services

(x)html(x)html

ServiceService--Oriented ArchitectureOriented Architecture

FolksonomiesFolksonomiesMessagingMessaging Social SoftwareSocial Software

Semantic WebSemantic Web

CMSCMSRSS/AtomRSS/Atom

IPv6IPv6GRIDGRID

P2PP2PSIPSIP

MPLSMPLSWeb 2.0Web 2.0

VoIPVoIP

Next Generation InternetNext Generation Internet

AJAXAJAX

In Brief

It’s the social, semantic Web

Barb Dybwad, “Approaching a definition of Web 2.0”The Social Software Weblog

Top 10

1. Yahoo!2. Google3. MySpace4. MSN5. Ebay

6. Amazon7. YouTube8. Craigslist9. Wikipedia10.CNN

Avatar IconAvatar Icon

Personal InfoPersonal Info

FriendsFriends

Friends’ CommentsFriends’ Comments

Contact InfoContact Info

BlogBlog

PersonalizationPersonalization

WidgetsWidgets

Flickr is a social network

Flickr shows me photos from my network

My contacts “tags” are available to me

FlickrFlickr combines a social network with user generated content. Users cacombines a social network with user generated content. Users can work together to n work together to collaborate on photo projects and use each others’ tags to find collaborate on photo projects and use each others’ tags to find new photos. new photos. FlickrFlickr also has an also has an API for web services to integrate photo collections with API for web services to integrate photo collections with blogsblogs and other apps. and other apps.

Del.icio.us Folksonomy Social Bookmarks

Tags: Descriptive words applied by users to links. Tags are searchable

My Tags: Words I’ve used to describe links in a way that makes sense to me

A “folksonomy” is a spontaneous, collaborative work to categorize links by a community of users. Users take control of organize the content together.

Blogging Most Recognized Example of Web 2.0

So, what does this have to do with second generation collaborative technology?

Oh, a whole lotBecause these applications dictate that the technology will be…

Web 2.0: “The Web as platform”Web 2.0: “The Web as platform”

Social Software:Social Software:Services for the ‘World Live Web’ Services for the ‘World Live Web’

Processes: humanProcesses: human--technologytechnology

(cyber)Social interactions(cyber)Social interactions

Layers of Interaction (1/2)Layers of Interaction (1/2)

RDF, OWLRDF, OWL

RSS, AtomRSS, AtomWS, SOAWS, SOA XML, XSLT, ...XML, XSLT, ...

AJAXAJAX xhtmlxhtml

NetworkingNetworkingSharingSharingBloggingBlogging TaggingTagging

MessagingMessaging

ShareShare

ConversateConversate

CollaborateCollaborate

FolksonomiesFolksonomiesBlogsBlogs WikisWikisPodcastsPodcasts SocialwareSocialware

USER INNOVATIONUSER INNOVATION

INNOVATINGINNOVATING

INNOVATIVEINNOVATIVEApps&ServicesApps&Services

TechnologyTechnologyINNOVATIONINNOVATION

Layers of Applications (2/2)Layers of Applications (2/2)

Dion Hinchliffe, “Review of the Year's Best Web 2.0 Explanations”Web 2.0 Journal

Collaboration and Web 2.0

Individual accountability and personal responsibility

Similar to e-bay, Youtube and Flickr

Use of the relevant interpersonal and small group skills: offer and accept support, conflict resolution, measure trust

Similar to Myspace and blogs

Frequent and regular group processing to improve the group's effectiveness, evaluate a community

Similar to Wikipedia and Del.icio.us

Thanks!Dr. Raúl V. Ramírez Velarderramirez@itesm.mx