Taking Social Taking Social Responsibility Paperless Responsibility Paperless

John H. Shannon | Susan A. O’Sullivan | Riad Twal

Using Blackboard and Wikis to Create a Collaborative Virtual Environment

Why?Why?

• Access– Online content• Over 10 billion pages

– US broadband access• 2005 ~ 30% of households• 2006 ~ 42% of households• 2007 ~ 47% of households

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Why?Why?

• Access– Handheld devices• Ubiquitous and more powerful than ever Digital natives adopt next gen mobile

technology as it evolves

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Why ~ More Important?Why ~ More Important?

• Our users are ready• Digital natives vs. digital immigrants• Digital content and delivery

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Why Go Paperless?Why Go Paperless?

• Environmentally conscious• Students prepared to work in a purely

digital medium• Permits broader use of digital sources• Streamlines submission, assessment

and response to assignments

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Why Use Collaborative Why Use Collaborative Tools?Tools?

• Content creation– Most software permits collaboration– File sharing, virtual classroom, IP video– New ways to teach and learn

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Why Use Collaborative Why Use Collaborative Tools?Tools?

• Digital delivery platform• Allows introduction of a diversity of

assignments• Facilitates virtual teams

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Meeting Our MissionMeeting Our Mission

Our Mission Is To Enrich The Life Of Each

Student Through A Nationally Recognized

Educational Experience That Is Inspired By

Innovative TeachingInnovative Teaching, Supported By Applied

Research, And Guided By A Values-Centric Values-Centric

CurriculumCurriculum

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BlackboardBlackboard

• Bb Course Management System– Creates virtual learning environments– Paperless courses– Environmentally friendly

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BlackboardBlackboard

• Content development– Individual and Collaborative

• Content delivery– Text based, audio and video– Discussion forums

• Assessment– Assignments, quizzes, examinations

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What Is A Wiki?What Is A Wiki?

• “Wiki" is a composition system; it's a discussion medium; it's a repository; it's a mail system; it's a tool for collaboration. Really, we don't know quite what it is, but it's a fun way of communicating asynchronously across the network

• “Wiki Wiki” ~ Hawaiian for “quick quick”• Front Page

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WikisWikis

• A collaborative website• Any number of examples– Wikipedia– Wikitravel– Wookieepedia– Wikiversity– Corporate wikis

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Wikis in Higher Wikis in Higher EducationEducation

• Columbia Wiki• Ohio University ~ The Biz Wiki• Stanford Wiki

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BMBA 9201: Corporate BMBA 9201: Corporate Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility• Part of the Foundation Sequence• First of the Essential Knowledge courses• Examines the relationship of the

business enterprise to its stakeholders• Raises questions about the social and

ethical conduct of enterprises

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CSR ObjectivesCSR Objectives

• Provoke students to think critically about ethical behavior in business

• Examine relationship of business enterprises to stakeholders

• Analyze questions about the socially responsible and ethical conduct of enterprises

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Team CollaborationTeam Collaboration

• Each case analysis project team hasaccess to Bb tools– Group Discussion Board– Collaboration– File Exchange– Email Communication

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Corporate Code of Corporate Code of ConductConduct

• Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of a Corporate Code of Conduct

• Identification of the ethical risks to which the company is subject

• Develop recommendations to strengthen and/or clarify the code and improve management strategy to minimize those risks

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CSR Wiki ProjectCSR Wiki Project

• Analysis of case identifying key issues that provide recommendations to upper management

• Research supporting the team’s case analysis

• Integrates new digital technology

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CSR Goes PaperlessCSR Goes Paperless

• All assignments developed and / or submitted through Bb– PowerPoint decks– Word documents– Google docs– Wiki section

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Different Wiki AppsDifferent Wiki Apps

• Spring 2008Spring 2008– Blackboard Wiki

• Fall 2008Fall 2008–MediaWiki

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Blackboard WikiBlackboard Wiki

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MediaWikiMediaWiki

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Wiki Reflections: Wiki Reflections: Students from BMBA Students from BMBA 9201 S08 | F089201 S08 | F08". . . While creating the wiki page was very painful at times, I definitely learned a lot from the experience. I think it was very beneficial to everyone in the course as it really built upon and solidified the information that was given to us through the presentations. If there was anything someone was unsure of, or wanted clarification on, the wiki’s became a great resource. I agree with my fellow classmates in that a one-day class tutorial would have been of great help in understanding the wiki software."

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Wiki Reflections: Wiki Reflections: Students from BMBA Students from BMBA 9201 S08 | F089201 S08 | F08". . . It was certainly an interesting experience learning how to create a Wiki page. It can be a great tool to advertise a new product or new policy. It is am important skill to learn and know whether you're entry-level, mid-level, or an executive. I hope that I don‘t forget this, and can utilize it impress some supervisors. I do agree with Kate that we should given a more extensive tutorial. However, on the flip side, we are professionals and should be able to figure this out on our own."

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Wiki Reflections: Wiki Reflections: Students from BMBA Students from BMBA 9201 S08 | F089201 S08 | F08". . . I did not mind the Wiki but maybe it was because my partner and I were able to figure it out fairly quickly. I agree that spending a bit of time learning how to create it would be beneficial. I made a Wiki for work once using “Google Sites”. It is much easier to use and actually looks like a real webpage - so much easier to navigate and create. If you are planning to do a Wiki again, I would suggest using Google's Wiki service. . ."

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Wiki Reflections: Wiki Reflections: Students from BMBA Students from BMBA 9201 S08 | F089201 S08 | F08". . . personally, I think the Wiki was a way better medium that a traditional paper. The fear of the unknown, or the unfamiliarity of preparing a wiki, did intimidate me at first. But once I earned how to do the technical details of posting, etc. I found the wiki to be great. It was easy to prepare, and it was a great way of looking at the other groups topics. I would keep the course requirements with the wiki for certain."

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Wiki Reflections: Wiki Reflections: Students from BMBA Students from BMBA 9201 S08 | F089201 S08 | F08". . . The class gave me a wider and deeper view of corporate culture than any of my other classes have attempted. The "student" is a sluggish creature so it should take a little more agility to keep on top of the Discussion Board, but in all honesty, I believe the Discussion board provided a good venue for real critical thinking, disagreement, and re-analysis of previously held positions."

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Wiki Reflections: Wiki Reflections: Students from BMBA Students from BMBA 9201 S08 | F089201 S08 | F08". . . The Wiki was a good idea in theory, but unless students are trained in web site development, it is a painful experience. Also, it is tough to format font and type in the Wiki (and that's a fault of the program that is used). The aesthetics of the Wiki dominated my work. It was harder for me to build the Wiki than it was to do the report. This shouldn't be. The focus shouldn‘t shift away from the report and be on developing a Wiki."

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Wiki Reflections: Wiki Reflections: Students from BMBA Students from BMBA 9201 S08 | F089201 S08 | F08". . . The Wiki was not nearly as hard or as complicated as most are making out to be. Its new and unfamiliar, which makes people feel uncomfortable, but it’s a great way of making sure we document our research, and allows others to see where we are getting our info from. . . "

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My PortalMy Portal

• ShannonWiki.net– Contact Information– Bio– Course Evaluations– Course Descriptions– Course Blog– Content

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www.shannonwiki.netwww.shannonwiki.net

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Questions & AnswersQuestions & Answers

John H. ShannonJohn H. ShannonAssociate Professor

Department of Legal StudiesStillman School of Business

Seton Hall Universityshannojh@shu.edu

Susan A. O’SullivanSusan A. O’SullivanSenior Faculty Associate

Department of Legal StudiesStillman School of Business

Seton Hall Universityosullisu@shu.edu

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Riad TwalRiad TwalInstructional Designer

Teaching, Learning, and Technology CenterSeton Hall University

riad.twal@shu.edu

Thank You!Thank You!

Go Pirates !!!November 20, 2008 Creating Collaborative Virtual Learning Environments 33