Facilitating perception on virtual learningware based environments
| Published date | 01 June 2001 |
| Pages | 93-113 |
| Date | 01 June 2001 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/13287260180000761 |
| Author | Hugo Fuks,Rodrigo Lemos de Assis |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Journal of Systems & Information Technology 5(1) Special Edition
93
FACILITATING PERCEPTION ON VIRTUAL
LEARNINGWARE BASED ENVIRONMENTS
Hugo Fuks
and
Rodrigo Lemos de Assis
Software Engineering Laboratory
Computer Science Department
Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
ABSTRACT
Questions related to perception in groupware systems ha ve received a lot
of attention in recent Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) studies.
This paper presents a model of support of perception for a groupware approach
based upon communica tion, coordination and cooperation. The suggested model
is applied through learningware technology. The AulaNet learning environment
was used as a source of experiences for development of the p roposed model. The
conception of a new service, implemented on AulaNet to illustrate the utilization
of perception information, also is presented. Some of the problems that have
been encoun tered, questions of implementation and difficu lties derived from the
addition of new functionalities, are high lighted throughout the paper.
INTRODUCTION
The facility with which information is distributed via the Internet and the growing
need for knowledge we are currently seeing increasingly have been motivating the use of
groupware basics and the World Wide Web for the creation of virtual training space
and/or collaborative learning. The potential of the Internet has been well received by
schools, universities, governmental o rganisms and commercial organizations that are
interested in promoting and creating learning environments [Lucena & Fuks et al.
1999b].
The research area that deals with topics that are related to collaborative learning
through computers is cited in the literature, such as Computer Supported Collaborative
Learning (CSCL) and is considered a subdivision of CSCW [Heeren 1996] dedicated to
educational applications. On the Internet2 [Internet2 2000] , learningware is the
expression used to denominate groupware that is dedicated to collaborative learning.
In this scenario, the elements of communication and co ordination invariably have
been related and are studied with the idea be ing to facilitate the work [Easterbrook
1995, Fussell et al. 1998] and the collaborative lea rning [Lucena & Fuks et al. 1999].
Journal of Systems & Information Technology 5(1) Special Edition
94
The use of resources distributed on the Internet may hide information that would
easily be available in a face-to-face scenario. As a conseq uence, work carried out
together through groupware, that is based on digital technology and distrib uted,
apparently may seem inefficient and wearing compared to face-to-face work [Gutwin &
Greenberg 1999] . The act of perceiving is important for coordination with other
individuals in collaborative tasks on distrib uted systems, where the mechanisms of
interaction are different than the usual ones [Fussell et al. 1998]. Perceiving other
individuals is an significant factor in the flow and naturalness of collaborative work. To
make p erception possible can be seen as a way to reduce the characteristic feeling of
coldness engendered by remote collaboration.
Research related to groupware offers data for the introduction o f new concepts
into the study of work and collaborative learning. However, there is very little in the way
of contributions on this when the theme is learning. The collaborative support tools may
also support interaction between the participants of a distributed learning environment.
A study about perception within this context is an attempt to fill in the current gap of
research into collaborative computing related to Web–based lea rning.
The studies that have been conducted have resulted in the addition of new
functionalities to the AulaNet environment. The AulaNet project began in 1997 at the
Software Engineering Labo ratory (LES) of the Computer Science Department at the
Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro. The AulaNet furnishes an environment to
facilitate the generation and maintenance of courses based on the Web [AulaNet 2000].
The tool was built based on the notio ns of communication, coordination and cooperation
mechanisms. Some of these mechanisms were selected and contextualized as part of the
learning. The environment has been structured in such a way that the teacher, the student
and the administrator are players involved in the teaching/learning process.
The conception of a new mechanism, developed on the AulaNet in order to
illustrate the use of per ception information, also is presented. Some of the pr oblems that
were encountered, questions of implementation and difficulties stemming from the
addition of new functionalities, are pointed out in the paper.
PERCEPTION AND GROUPWARE
This study considers perception to be the knowledge created by the interaction of
individuals and the environment to which they are related. In this sense, the concept of
perception can be defined as “knowledge of what is happening” [Endsley 1995] and of
what to do. This conception of perception involves states of knowledge, such as the
dynamic process of perception and of action as a result of what has been perceived.
This article proposes a relationship between groupware concepts—
communication, coordination and cooperation—and integrates them with another
concept that is related to groupware, pe rception [Assis 2000]. The intersection p oints
between perception and each one of the mechanisms are highlighted in order to analyze
where there is a need for some perception information, and if some perception
information can be generated . The analyses are used for the creation of a diagram of the
relationships of the fundamental groupware concepts.
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