CeLS 2011 Abstracts


Short Papers
Paper Nr: 3
Title:

ENHANCING ADAPTIVITY AND INTELLIGENT TUTORING IN DISTRIBUTED PAIR PROGRAMMING SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT NOVICE PROGRAMMERS

Authors:

Despina Tsompanoudi and Maya Satratzemi

Abstract: Pair programming is a computer programming technique where two programmers share one computer for software development. When applied in an educational context, pair programming has been reported as an effective teaching method, mainly improving student satisfaction, retention rates and program quality. Several systems have been developed to cover the need for pair programming over distance. We present the features of such systems including their advantages and weaknesses, and we examine if these systems eliminate known issues of pair programming, such as unequal participation. Finally, considering the limitations of current systems of distributed pair programming and taking into account common difficulties encountered by novice programmers, we propose adaptation strategies for supporting student collaboration in a distributed pair programming environment.
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Paper Nr: 4
Title:

THE USE OF PROJECT MANAGEMENT TOOLS TO SUPPORT THE COORDINATION OF COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

Authors:

Marcelo Augusto Rauh Schmitt and Liane Margarida Rockenbach Tarouco

Abstract: Coordination plays a fundamental role in collaborative learning. When collaboration is supported by computers, automatic coordination mechanisms must be deployed. This paper aims to study the possibility of transfering project management tools commonly used in work contexts to learning contexts. We propose a coordination model that makes the change of area feasible, and that favours learner’s autonomy. Two case studies were carried out and a new tool was built in order to test the hypothesis. The results of the current research suggest that project management tools are viable alternatives to automatic coordination support, as long as they are used under a proper paradigm.
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Paper Nr: 5
Title:

PEDAGOGICAL FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LEARNING OBJECTS IN COLLABORATIVE E-LEARNING SYSTEMS

Authors:

Ali Alharbi, Frans Henskens and Michael Hannaford

Abstract: Learning objects are the building blocks of the learning resources in any e-learning system. In collaborative e-learning systems, the learning objects are produced and consumed by different learners. Finding high quality learning objects that are related to a learner’s profile is one of the major problems that may cause e-learning systems to fail. This is especially true as the number of learning objects in the learning environment increases. This paper presents a pedagogical framework to improve learners’ interactions with learning objects in collaborative e-learning systems. The proposed framework is based on the theory of learning styles and the cyclical model of self-regulated learning. By incorporating the experiences and contributions of different learners with the available learning objects, the quality of the learning objects in the system can be increased. Learners’ awareness of their preferred learning style can help them to find appropriate learning objects. This can be achieved by the help of the e-learning system that can generate a recommendation list of appropriate learning objects based on the learner’s learning style.
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Paper Nr: 11
Title:

PROJECT-BASED COLLABORATIVE LEARNING WITH ARGUMENTS - Flexible Integration of Digital Resources

Authors:

Gert Faustmann

Abstract: Success in project-based learning strongly depends on the experience of the project participants. Experienced learners often develop results that are not understood by less experienced participants. In this situation arguments can show the solution’s approach by connecting parts of the given task with individual results. By using digital documents of arbitrary format it is possible to build a flexible net of arguments for the whole project. This paper describes an approach to integrate arguments with project-based learning and shows how to realize the use of digital resources in a web-based learning platform.
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Paper Nr: 2
Title:

COLLABORATIVE E-LEARNING BY MEANS OF ASYNCHRONOUS DISCUSSION FORUMS AND GROUP TUTORIALS COMBINATION

Authors:

Lorenzo Salas-Morera, Antonio Arauzo-Azofra and Laura García-Hernández

Abstract: A combination of teaching techniques including forums and group tutorials combination have been put into practice in Industrial Engineering and Software Engineering degree courses in order to improve students' academical performance and skills in areas including problem-solving, information management and group working by means of a collaborative learning. In addition to implementing the new teaching techniques, a set of assessment tools, including online quizzes, surveys, forum activity analyses and group tutorials co-evaluation have been used. The results presented here are drawn from a six-year experiment and prove to be a useful way of improving the students' general skills and knowledge.
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Paper Nr: 12
Title:

A THEORETICAL ACCESSIBLE APPROACH FOR COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN MOBILE DEVICES

Authors:

Rocío Calvo, Ana Iglesias and Lourdes Moreno

Abstract: The concept of accessing to the Internet has changed in the last decade. Nowadays, the access to the Internet is more flexible and users are able to surf on it from different Mobile Devices. Then, why not learn through mobile devices as mobile phones? The main aim of this paper is to propose a theoretical model of a web collaborative module for mobile devices. It pretends to provide a list of features that all mobile Learning Management Systems (LMSs) should have in their collaborative modules and how they should be implemented in mobile devices.
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