The Fishbowl: Degrees of Engagement in Global Teamwork March 28, 2006

The research project is conducted jointly by the PBL Lab at Stanford and the IT-University of Gothenburg and aims to improve cross-disciplinary, collaborative, and geographically distributed project-based learning (PBL) in an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Management (A/E/C) Global Teamwork course offered at Stanford University, in collaboration with eight universities worldwide.
We are deploying a computer mediated role modeling learning experience called the Fishbowl, which is inspired by the medical school learning environment and refers to special operation rooms with glass walls where expert surgeons operate on patients and medical students watch. One of the research foci is to examine how remote students engage in questioning with co-located mentors during the Fishbowl and how synchronous technology participates in this process.
We are collecting data through video-recording. I will show some short video clips and address some methodological issues emerging along the way.

Marisa Ponti works as a contract researcher at the IT-University of Gothenburg, Sweden, at the research and teaching unit called Learning, Communication and Information Technology. She is also working towards a Ph.D. in Applied Information Technology at the IT-University. Her research interests include the study of geographically distributed design teams, and the role of space and place in designing interactive technologies and technology mediated work environments.

Marissa has been involved in different European funded projects related to technology-enhanced learning, including EQUEL-Virtual European Centre in e-learning, Engaging Networks for Sustainable eLearning (ENSEL) in Small and Medium Enterprises, and Kaleidoscope ERT on Productive Conditions in Networked Learning Environments and Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Special Interest Group.

her academic background is cross-disciplinary. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Rome, Italy, and a M. Sc in Information Studies from Syracuse University, USA. Before turning to research, she was Sr. Information Scientist for a multinational pharmaceutical company, as a member of a Global Information Network.

Marissa Ponti's CV is available at http://mponti.info/blog