A community and knowledge building model in computer education

Abstract

Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) is a new information technology subject at Charles Sturt University, that develops a learning community and knowledge sharing network for a diverse range of students. By integrating course content about CSCW, students use information environments and groupware products such as e-mail, the Z Object Publishing Environment (ZOPE) and MOO to create learning artefacts. The subject immerses students into social, philosophical and psychological aspects of working in online environments as well as the technology issues associated with being a participant in a workgroup that can be applied in such fields as professional development, information technology, library science, education, teacher librarianship, health care or policing. Students explore the principles of workgroups, various cognitive frameworks and collaborative task (eg. meetings, document generation, argument support and policy work). They learn how to select and tailor a framework appropriate to a specific collaborative situation, and guide the development of workgroup-specific infrastructure. They are also expected to evaluate the effectiveness of workflow, human interaction and knowledge management within an organisation. This paper describes how a team-teaching approach has been structured, and how students and lecturers facilitated each other in regard to course content, methods of instruction, methods of assessment and evaluation.