SUPPORT FOR GROUP AWARENESS IN EDUCATIONAL GROUPWARE
Date
1995-05-01
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Abstract
Real-time educational groupware systems are multi-user computer
applications that allow physically separated learners to work together
in a shared virtual space at the same time. These systems do not yet
provide the rich communication and awareness that are possible in a
face-to-face learning situation. One of the elements lacking in
these systems is group awareness - the up-to-the-minute knowledge
that is needed to work or learn with another person. This paper
describes our initial investigations into computer support for group
awareness. We present a framework for thinking about the awareness
requirements of collaborative learning situations, and then we
organize group learning situations in terms of group awareness. From
the framework, we have designed and built several awareness widgets
for educational groupware that can be used in the networked classroom
and in distance learning. These widgets help learners maintain awareness
of other learners' locations when their views are separated, of other
learners' activities in shared and separate view situations, and of
other learners' past activities in out-and-back collaboration.
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Computer Science