Collaborating on the Web

Concepts, Tools, and Approaches

http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/

Presenters

Ian GRAHAMCentre for Academic Technology978-4548<ian.graham@utoronto.ca>http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/

Gale MOOREKMDI978-4655<gmoore@dgp.utoronto.ca>http://www.kmdi.utoronto.ca/

Mark CHIGNELLDept. of Mechanical and

Industrial Engineering<chignel@mie.utoronto.ca>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 unreliableAdvantages

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 toolExample ….. Hypermail

Demonstrations in showcase

Advantages

Permanent record of dialogCan be searchedCan be linked to (from) other

resources Web-enabled

3) Realtime chat:

Chat/exchange messages in real-timeCan ask simple questions quicklyCan check for presence of people onlineBackground 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 usageProblems and concernsCollaborative Environments: The

Next Step

What is a Newsgroup?

Why use a newsgroup?

Easy, convenientInstantaneous access to messagesCuts down on photocopyingStudents can post their assignments and

reportsProvides a complete record of class

activityGood way of building content for Website

Analysis of newsgroup usage

MIE 1404 Human Factors in IT279 messages posted in first 10 wks.8 of first 10 messages from instructor1 of latest 10 messages from instructorTypes of posting

Course Notes, Reminders, Requests Interesting papers, student assignments Seminar announcements, etc.

Problems and concerns

Access to the WebStudents/Instructor have to pay

attentionNetiquette (appropriate postings)Lurking (uneven participation)No organization of materialInstructor 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 chignell@mie.utoronto if you want to use the VI for fall grad class.

Before You Start ...

Think About:Your department/disciplinary cultureSelecting the task/projectSelecting the colleagueYour 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 fromhaving 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/