Communication & Collaboration

By David G. Brown, VP and DeanWake Forest University

at the Blackboard SummitWashington, D.C.

April 8, 1999

My Main Points*

• We learn from others, via dialogue. [3,4]• Computers increase dialogue, a lot. [5]• The most powerful way to use computers to increase

learning is to strengthen communication and collaboration. [6]

• Many of the most effective techniques have short learning curves. [7]

• Let me share a few of these techniques from my own teaching. [8] *#’s refer to slides

From the times of Craft Guilds & Small Towns

we have “known” that ---

• Most learning is collaborative• Frequent feedback increases learning • Loyalty-to-group motivates learning• More time on task usually

means more learning

Beliefs of 91/93 Vignette AuthorsPedagogy and Philosophy

• Interactive Learning• Learn by Doing• Collaborative Learning• Integration of Theory and Practice• Communication• Visualization• Different Strokes for Different Folks

From Interactive Learning Forthcoming June, 1999From Anker PublishingDavid G. Brown, Editor

Computers allow people----

• to belong to more communities• to be more actively engaged in each

community• with more people• over more miles• for more months and years• TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE

Computers Enhance My Teaching and/or Learning Via--

PresentationsBetter--20%More Opportunities toPractice & Analyze--35%

More Access to SourceMaterials via Internet--43%

More Communication with Faculty Colleagues, Classmates,and Between Faculty and Students--87%

The Big Three •E-mail •Course Web Page •Internet URLs

Brown’s First Year Seminar

• Before Class– Students Find URLs &

Identify Criteria– Interactive exercises– Lecture Notes– E-mail dialogue– Cybershows

• During Class– One Minute Quiz– Computer Tip Talk– Class Polls

• After Class– Edit Drafts by Team– Guest Editors– Hyperlinks & Pictures– Access Previous Papers

• Other– Daily Announcements– Team Web Page– Personal Web Pages– Exams include Computer– Materials Forever

THE WAKE FOREST PLANF96: IBM 365XD, 16RAM, 100Mhz, 810MB, CD-ROM, 14.4 modemF97: IBM 380D, 32 RAM, 130Mhz, 1.35GB, CD-ROM, 33.6 modemF98: IBM 380XD, 64 RAM, 233 Mhz, 4.1GB, CD-ROM, 56 modem

F99: IBM 390, 128RAM, 333 Mhz, 6 GB, CD-ROM, 56 modem

• Thinkpads for all• New Every 2 Years• Own @ Graduation• Standard Template• IGN for Faculty• Keep Old Computers

• 75% CEI Users• +15% Tuition• 4 Year Phase In

1999 Software Load

Netscape 4.5, Dreamweaver 2, SPSS 9, Maple V 5.1

Windows 98, MS Office Prof 97

David G. BrownWake Forest University

Winston-Salem, N.C. 27109336-758-4878

email: brown@wfu.eduhttp//:www.wfu.edu/~brown

fax: 336-758-4875