Collaborating on the Web

1. Collaborating on the Web Concepts, Tools, and Approaches http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/

2. Ian GRAHAM Centre for Academic Technology 978-4548 <ian.graham@utoronto.ca> http://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/ Presenters Gale MOORE KMDI 978-4655 <gmoore@dgp.utoronto.ca> http://www.kmdi.utoronto.ca/ Mark CHIGNELL Dept. of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering <chignel@mie.utoronto.ca> http://anarch.ie.utoronto.ca/

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Goals of Web* Collaboration • Collaborate easily over distance • Collaborate easily over time • Automate process, where possible • Archive knowledge in the system • Working withother people * - There is more to this than meets the eye….

8. Limitations of Tools • The computer mediates communication • Limits expressibility, flexibility (sometimes good) • Alters representation of participants • E.g:, telephone, email, video-conferencing)

9. 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

10. 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

11. General Issues • Constraints • Limited set of technologies available • common real-time tools (voice, video discussion) expensive and unreliable • Advantages • Some simple tools are cheap, easy to use, generically available and effective • Start simple, add more complex later

12. 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

13. 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...

14. Advantages • Pretty simple • Need same word processor • Need to learn revision tool • Need to manage process • (that’s you…) • Demonstration in the showcase

15. Looks Like this:

16. 2) Email Discussion Tool • Shared text messages for a discussion • Web (bulletin board) or email-based (listserv) • Asynchronous tool • Example ….. Hypermail • Demonstrations in showcase

18. Advantages • Permanent record of dialog • Can be searched • Can be linked to (from) other resources • Web-enabled

19. 3) Realtime chat: • Chat/exchange messages in real-time • Can ask simple questions quickly • Can check for presence of people online • Background awareness: • I can phone you if I see you online … • Reduces opportunity costs for communication

20. ICQ Controls

21. 4) Newsgroup Discussion • What is a newsgroup? • Why use a newsgroup? • Analysis of newsgroup usage • Problems and concerns • Collaborative Environments: The Next Step

22. What is a Newsgroup?

23. Why use a newsgroup? • Easy, convenient • Instantaneous access to messages • Cuts down on photocopying • Students can post their assignments and reports • Provides a complete record of class activity • Good way of building content for Website

24. Analysis of newsgroup usage • MIE 1404 Human Factors in IT • 279 messages posted in first 10 wks. • 8 of first 10 messages from instructor • 1 of latest 10 messages from instructor • Types of posting • Course Notes, Reminders, Requests • Interesting papers, student assignments • Seminar announcements, etc.

25. Problems and concerns • Access to the Web • Students/Instructor have to pay attention • Netiquette (appropriate postings) • Lurking (uneven participation) • No organization of material • Instructor is more accountable!

26. 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.

27. Before You Start ... Think About: • Your department/disciplinary culture • Selecting the task/project • Selecting the colleague • Your 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?

28. If You Build it ... … they won’t necessarily come: “Technology won’t make people work together, but people who work together benefit from having the tools they need” • Moral: Use the tools that match the types of interactions you need to support.

29. Concepts, Tools, and Approacheshttp://www.utoronto.ca/ian/talks/ Collaborating on the Web