IPLab & CID-seminarium April 29, 2005

IPLab & CID-seminarium fredag 29 april kl. 10.15-12.00

"Evaluation of collaborative tools in web-based e-learning systems"

Matteo Monari, IPLab & University of Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italien

Lokal: Rum 1625, Lindstedtsvägen 3, plan 6

Abstract:

During the last decade, the Web has changed from a simple hyper textual repository of documents to a powerful communication medium. This shift has made Web applications highly suitable for the support of educational activities, which often include collaborative sessions. However, e-learning groupware technologies are still not supported by established evaluation methodologies. Based on previous studies, we developed a questionnaire aimed at evaluating their functionality and usability, as well as their impact on the contexts of adoption. The questionnaire was then administered to students who used different commercial and freeware e-learning platforms to support collaborative writing activities (peer review). The systems studied were Blackboard, Ping-Pong and Moodle. Apart from evaluating the platforms? usability and functionality, the results obtained constitute a report of the impact collaborative tools can have on educational environments, and provide food for thought about their use and possible ameliorations.