Joe Griffin

Advantages and Problems in Using Information Communication Technologies to Support the Teaching of a Multi-institutional Computer Ethics Course

The ‘political push’ and technological ‘pull’ currently prevalent in many higher education institutions is encouraging educationalists to increasingly experiment with tools that promote collaborative work, which, in turn, is perceived to help in the develop ment of more autonomous, responsible learners. This study will focus on the advantages and problems of using Information Communication Technologies to support a blended learning approach to the teaching of a multi-institutional Professional Issues/Computer Ethics course. First, it will examine how the collaboration was facilitated by the use of a commercially available collaborative learning management tool, Blackboard. It will detail how Blackboard was used in two fieldwork studies (years one and two of this collaboration) to enhance the teaching of professional issues in computing/computer ethics at the University of Limerick in Ireland, at De Montfort University in England and at Sacred Heart University in the United States of America. Next, it will examine how, in the second year, the Belbin (1981) Self-Perception Inventory was used to help in the establishment of virtual teams by getting students to consider individual differences in determining group roles. Finally, the results in terms of outcomes and student/staff reactions will be given.

New technology, communities and networking: problems and prospects for orchestrating change

Abstract This paper discusses the concept of community networking using new technologies. It specifically focuses on relatively large-scale town networks, where the network has outside sponsorship, and provides some examples of these networks. After examining the motivation for community networks, we attempt to see to what extent local concerns are being met in these social experiments. Unfortunately, there is a serious shortage of evaluation studies on many of these networks. In the final third of the paper, we discuss in more detail the eircom Ennis Information Age Town (eEIAT) project in Ireland, and provide some information on an on-going project, in which we are involved, concerning the design of community networking centres.

Blackboard: a Web-based resource in the teaching of a multi-disciplinary/multi-institutional computer ethics course

This paper will focus on the use of a commercially available collaborative learning management tool (CLMT), Blackboard and how it has been used to enhance the teaching of professional issues in a large cohort given at the University of Limerick in Ireland and a small writing-based senior ethics course given at Sacred Heart University. This study details the various facilities offered by Blackboard, some of the ways in which the tools were used to enhance learning and critical thinking and some reflections on the strengths and weaknesses of the tool. A prospective design and implementation of an international collaboration between the two classes will be explained along with the objectives and outcome assessment methods.

Seeing is believing: using Data Visualisation for formative feedback in computer supported online learning collaboration

Professional Issues in Software Engineering (PISE) is a final year computer science module taught at the University of Limerick. PISE focuses on the ethical, legal and social consequences of the design, implementation and use of information systems. A central pedagogy to the module is the group-based approach to teaching and assessment. A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Moodle, has been used to facilitate this approach. However, the sheer volume of data created by student interaction with the VLE caused a problem of information overload for the lecturer. This paper describes the nature of the problem and the use of formative assessment to provide useful learner feedback. The paper finally discusses the use of Data Visualisation and a tool, DVReport, that was specifically developed for Moodle to enhance the learning.

Broadening the Education of Software Engineers - Some Lessons and Pointers

Professional Issues in Software Engineering (PISE) has been taught as part of the computer systems undergraduate degree programme at the University of Limerick using a multi-institutional collaborative pedagogy. PISE considers the ethical, legal and social consequences of the design, implementation and use of computer and information systems. Students from UL collaborated with students from other universities in USA, England and Malta, working together in geographically distributed virtual learning groups to consider ethical issues in software engineering. This paper reflects the longitudinal evaluation of teaching and assessment methods that have been developed over 20 years.