Transcript IanGalecollab

Collaborating on the Web
Concepts, Tools, and
Approaches
http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/
Presenters
Ian GRAHAM
Centre for Academic Technology
978-4548
<[email protected]>
http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/
Gale MOORE
KMDI
978-4655
<[email protected]>
http://www.kmdi.utoronto.ca/
Mark CHIGNELL
Dept. of Mechanical and
Industrial Engineering
<[email protected]>
http://anarch.ie.utoronto.ca/
Presentation Overview
What is collaboration?
How do we do it
Goals of Web-based collaboration
Issues, problems
Example environments and technologies
Questions to ask before you start
What is Collaboration?
Work by more than one person
Groups of 2 or 3 …. (telephone)
Up to groups of thousands
The process of working together
How do we Collaborate?
What are the processes?
Discussion
Collecting and sharing resources (paper,
things, whatever)
Editing resources
Reviewing resources
Process and workflow management
Knowledge management
With What?
Conferencing (Evoke)
Email, chat tools (ICQ, IRC, NetMeeting)
Document sharing (iDrive, Word)
Newsgroups, mailing lists (local examples)
Collaborative environments (LearningSpace,
ThinkWire, Achieve, WitanWeb, Holodesk)
Calendaring, workflow management, ...
…. Showcase examples
Goals of Web* Collaboration
Collaborate easily over distance
Collaborate easily over time
Automate process, where possible
Archive knowledge in the system
Working with other people
* - There is more to this than meets the eye….
Limitations of Tools
The computer mediates communication
Limits expressibility, flexibility (sometimes
good)
Alters representation of participants
E.g:, telephone, email, video-conferencing)
Limitations of Tools (2)
Accessibility and compatibility
participants must have access to the tools
Tools must be compatible with each other
Accessibility to persons with disabilities also
an issue
Right tool for right task at right time
Collaboration Models
1) Synchronous
collaboration in real time (like a meeting, or
phone call)
2) Asynchronous
non- real time discussion, sharing
More like flow of work in an office
E.g, editing a manuscript, conference
planning
General Issues
Constraints
Limited set of technologies available
common real-time tools (voice, video
discussion) expensive and unreliable
Advantages
Some simple tools are cheap, easy to use,
generically available and effective
Start simple, add more complex later
Four Easy Pieces
Shared Document Creation/Editing
Uses good ol’ word processors
Mailing List Discussion Tool
Uses email, or simple Web interface
Realtime Chat Tool
Newsgroup Discussion Tool
A classroom example
1) Shared Creation/Editing
Asynchronous tool
Author document with word processor
Send document to collaborator (email*)
They author their own part, edit yours
Return it to you
Repeat process until finished
* - attachments; iDrive document sharing space, others...
Advantages
Pretty simple
Need same word processor
Need to learn revision tool
Need to manage process
(that’s you…)
Demonstration in the showcase
Looks Like this:
2) Email Discussion Tool
Shared text messages for a discussion
Web (bulletin board) or email-based
(listserv)
Asynchronous tool
Example ….. Hypermail
Demonstrations in showcase
Advantages
Permanent record of dialog
Can be searched
Can be linked to (from) other resources
Web-enabled
3) Realtime chat:
Chat/exchange messages in real-time
Can ask simple questions quickly
Can check for presence of people online
Background awareness:
I can phone you if I see you online …
Reduces opportunity costs for communication
ICQ Controls
4) Newsgroup Discussion
What is a newsgroup?
Why use a newsgroup?
Analysis of newsgroup usage
Problems and concerns
Collaborative Environments: The Next
Step
What is a Newsgroup?
Why use a newsgroup?
Easy, convenient
Instantaneous access to messages
Cuts down on photocopying
Students can post their assignments and
reports
Provides a complete record of class activity
Good way of building content for Website
Analysis of newsgroup usage
MIE 1404 Human Factors in IT
279 messages posted in first 10 wks.
8 of first 10 messages from instructor
1 of latest 10 messages from instructor
Types of posting
Course Notes, Reminders, Requests
Interesting papers, student assignments
Seminar announcements, etc.
Problems and concerns
Access to the Web
Students/Instructor have to pay attention
Netiquette (appropriate postings)
Lurking (uneven participation)
No organization of material
Instructor is more accountable!
Collaborative Environments:
The Next Step
E.g., KMDI Virtual Institute (VI), Bell
Canada University Labs
Designed for Research, also works for
graduate classes
Online workspaces, divided into project
areas, group areas, message boards, etc.
Email [email protected] if you want to
use the VI for fall grad class.
Before You Start ...
Think About:
Your department/disciplinary culture
Selecting the task/project
Selecting the colleague
Your personal “readiness”
Your colleague’s “readiness”
Making the first project a success
Start small
Start before you need to!
Are there barriers you can foresee?
If You Build it ...
… they won’t necessarily come:
“Technology won’t make people work together,
but people who work together benefit from
having the tools they need”
Moral: Use the tools that match the
types of interactions you need to support.
Collaborating on the Web
Concepts, Tools, and Approaches
http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/