Department of Computer Science, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
CM40149 Collaborative systems |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Masters |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: CW100 |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: To equip students an advanced understanding of current research issues in computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW);
To foster the development of critical analysis of design approaches, research methods and theoretical positions in these areas; To explore the range of cooperative and coordinated activities that can be supported by interactive technologies; To situate the process of designing collaborative technologies between analysis of social and organisational collective practices and theoretically motivated modelling. Learning Outcomes: On successfully completing the unit, students should be able to: * identify relevant principles and guidelines to support tightly and loosely couples groups in concerted and coordinated activity; * account for the usability and effectiveness of technologies used by collaborating groups; critically evaluate claims made by designers of communication tools that are intended to support collaboration. Skills: Can collate information and derive knowledge of several cutting-edge research areas and/or applications in the field. (T/F A) Can reason scientifically, understand the role of evidence and make critical judgments about arguments in CSCW. (T/F A) Can adopt multiple perspectives and systematically analyse the relationships between them. (T/F A) Can communicate ideas and research findings both effectively and fluently by written, oral and visual means. (T/F A) Can cooperate and coordinate effort and delivery of effective research presentations (T/F) Can solve problems by clarifying questions, considering alternative solutions and evaluating outcomes. (T/F A) Can undertake self-directed study and project management in order to meet desired objectives. (T/F) Is able to take charge of their own learning, and can reflect and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses for the purposes of future learning. (T/F) Content: Articulation work and the overhead of collaboration; group decision support systems; the connection between collaboration and formation of common understanding through mediating technologies; theoretical perspectives on participation; social presence; video-mediated interactions; text-based communication; technologies to support mutual awareness within teams; changing physical, social and organisational environments of collaborative computing. |