Samuel R. H. Joseph

Beyond threaded discussion: Representational guidance in asynchronous collaborative learning environments

Although most online learning environments are predominately text based, researchers have argued that representational support for the conceptual structure of a problem would address problems of coherence and convergence that have been shown to be associated with threaded discussions and more effectively support collaborative knowledge construction. The study described in this paper sets out to investigate the merits of knowledge mapping representations as an adjunct to or replacement for threaded discussion in problem solving by asynchronously communicating dyads. Results show that users of knowledge maps created more hypotheses earlier in the experimental sessions and elaborated on them more than users of threaded discussions. Participants using knowledge maps were more likely to converge on the same conclusion and scored significantly higher on post-test questions that required integration of information distributed across dyads in a hidden profile design, suggesting that there was greater collaboration during the session. These results were most consistent when a knowledge map with embedded notes was the primary means of interaction rather than when it augmented a threaded discussion. The paper also offers a methodological contribution: a paradigm for practical experimental study of asynchronous collaboration. It is crucial to understand how to support collaborative knowledge construction in the asynchronous settings prevalent in online learning, yet prior experimental research has focused on face-to-face and synchronous collaboration due to the pragmatic problems of conducting controlled studies of asynchronous interaction. A protocol is outlined that enables study of asynchronous collaboration in a controlled setting.

Agents and Peer-to-Peer Computing

Invited Paper.- Information Flow Analysis in Autonomous Agent and Peer-to-Peer Systems for Self-organizing Electronic Health Records.- P2P Infrastructure.- Hybrid DHT Design for Mobile Environments.- DANTE: A Self-adapting Peer-to-Peer System.- The Exclusion of Malicious Routing Peers in Structured P2P Systems.- Agents in P2P.- Cooperative CBR System for Peer Agent Committee Formation.- Mobile Agent-Based Approach for Resource Discovery in Peer-to-Peer Networks.- P2P Search.- Chora: Expert-Based P2P Web Search.- K-link: A Peer-to-Peer Solution for Organizational Knowledge Management.- An Analysis of Interest-Community Facilitated Peer-to-Peer Search.- Applications.- Mitigating the Impact of Liars by Reflecting Peers Credibility on P2P File Reputation Systems.- A Comparative Study of Reasoning Techniques for Service Selection.- PROSA: P2P Resource Organisation by Social Acquaintances.- Reliable P2P File Sharing Service.- Studying Viable Free Markets in Peer-to-Peer File Exchange Applications without Altruistic Agents.- Distributed Multi-layered Network Management for NEC Using Multi-Agent Systems.- Facilitating Collaboration in a Distributed Software Development Environment Using P2P Architecture.- A Peer to Peer Grid Computing System Based on Mobile Agents.

PhotoStudy: vocabulary learning and collaboration on fixed & mobile devices

PhotoStudy is a system that supports vocabulary study on both wired and wireless devices. It is designed to make it simple to annotate content with multimedia such as images and audio recorded on these devices. This paper presents a prototype system that uses wireless markup languages and Java MIDlets. User evaluations have been conducted, and are being continued in our iterative design approach. We report the results from questionnaire evaluations, observational studies and interviews.

MOBILE DEVICES FOR LANGUAGE LEARNING: MULTIMEDIA APPROACHES

This paper examines the use of mobile devices for language learning. In particular we consider how different multimedia and interface modalities can be used to facilitate mobile language learning. The use of multimedia is considered within the context of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) theories. In particular, we examine the Interaction Framework, Schemata Theory, SLA Universal Grammar related theories and Multimedia Learning Theory. Two case studies serve to illuminate: the audio-based training of a system called MAC and the image-based training of another called PhotoStudy. We also suggest evaluation techniques that should be used to test the application of these theories to Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL).

Conceptual representations enhance knowledge construction in asynchronous collaboration

An experimental study of asynchronously communicating dyads tested the claim that conceptual representations could more effectively support collaborative knowledge construction in online learning than threaded discussions. Results showed that users of conceptual representations created more hypotheses earlier in the experimental sessions and elaborated on hypotheses more than users of threaded discussions. Participants using conceptual representations were more likely to converge on the same conclusion and scored higher on post-test questions that required integration of information distributed across dyads in a hidden profile design. However, the essay contents and post-test offered no evidence for differences in information sharing in itself. These results were most consistent when a knowledge map with embedded notes was the primary means of interaction rather than when it augmented a threaded discussion.

Mobile Language Learning with Multimedia and Multi-modal Interfaces

This paper focuses on the issue of how mobile devices can enhance the language learning experience, and how to evaluate such systems. To this end we consider some of the different multimedia and interface modalities in use in the mobile language learning field, focusing in particular on experiences from two case studies: the audio-based training of MAC (M. Uther et al., 2005) and the image based training of PhotoStudy (S.R.H. Joseph et al., 2005). In addition we provide an overview of the current support for audio and visual interaction as well as developments in the mobile augmented and virtual reality spheres and other possible modalities

Representational Effects in Asynchronous Collaboration: A Research Paradigm and Initial Analysis

Researchers have argued that tools for online learning should provide representational support for the conceptual structure of a problem area in order to address issues of coherence and convergence and more effectively support collaborative knowledge construction. The study described in this paper sets out to investigate the merits of knowledge representations and of two alternative ways they may be related to discussion tools: embedded or linked. Analyses conducted to date suggest intriguing process and outcome differences to be investigated in future analyses. The paper also offers a methodological contribution: a paradigm for practical experimental study of asynchronous collaboration. Prior research has focused on face-to-face and synchronous collaboration due to the pragmatic problems of conducting asynchronous studies. It is crucial to understand how to support collaborative knowledge construction in asynchronous settings prevalent in online learning.

Bridging Socio-Technical Capital in an Online Learning Environment

This work is based on the premise that online learning environments can potentially help develop communities of scholars by enabling participants to discover persons and resources from contexts other than the original course to which they were assigned. Our software, Prometheus, is being used to support online university level education and teacher professional development under an open community model inspired by this idea. The analysis reported in this paper tests whether people who come to the online environment for instrumental objectives such as taking a course encounter persons or products of others from outside their course workspace, and also seeks to identify how the various digital media available in Prometheus support these encounters. Results show distinct roles for each of discussions, resources, user profiles, and wiki pages, and suggest ways to improve our designs.

Using Second Life to demonstrate a concept automobile heads up display (A-HUD)

There are different options to establish and test new technology within automobiles. From simulators to real world driving, most have disadvantages of development time, expensive costs, or complex setups. We describe a method using Second Lifes virtual world to conduct simulations for driving and testing a new conceptual Automobile Heads Up Display (A-HUD).

Searching Emergent Vocabularies: Exploring Methods to Reduce Cognitive Load during Web Navigation and Resource Contribution

This paper presents a differential usage study of a web-based resource database that provides both search and associative browsing functionality. The associative browsing is based on emergent meta-data: meta-data that is derived from the terms that users associate with resources they have contributed to the system. We argue that this approach provides a low cognitive load information seeking mechanism, and can also reduce the effort required by the user to enter meta-data when contributing resources. In this paper we concentrate on a three-month study of student librarians using the system, with analysis of their activities and other data collected by questionnaire. The results suggest that associative browsing was at least as popular as search, and that providing perspectives on emerging meta-data during the contribution process may have helped the community self-organize a vocabulary.