1. Computer Mediated Communications
Week 12
LBSC 690
Information Technology

2. Agenda Questions Computer mediated communications
Computer-supported cooperative work
Educational computing
Project testing

3. Computer Mediated Communication
CMC refers to human communication via computers--including computer network communication on the Internet and the World Wide Web. People interested in CMC study a range of phenomena--from the dynamics of group communication in Usenet news articles to how people use hypertext to shape meaning.
from

4. Describing CMC Applications
How many participants?
One or many
When?
Synchronous or asynchronous
Where?
Local or remote

5. Cooperative systems Same Time (synchronous) Different Times
(asynchronous)
Same
place
face to face
(classroom tools)
asynchronous interaction
(bulletin board)
Different
places
(distributed)
synchronous distributed
(IM, IRC, Netmeeting)
asynchronous distributed
( , USENET news, BBS)
Inspired by the table in Shneiderman’s “Designing user interfaces”

6. Electronic Mail (email)
Asynchronous and distributed
A great start for Internet communication
Available even beyond the Internet
Many providers
AOL, MSN, Yahoo, universities
Mailing lists provide simple way to talk to many people at once
listservs

7. USENET News and BBS Asynchronous and distributed
USENET are similar to a large set of mailing lists
Hierarchical organization
Most general appears first (comp., soc., alt. …)
Most specific appears last (comp.edu.languages.natural)
Google groups keeps all the news
Bulletin Board Systems are Web extension
Not through s, but web pages
More popular than USENET now
An example:

8. Hands on point: try online BBS
Go to
Pick up a board to read
Describe how it is organized
Powered by discusware at

9. Threads in emails and news
Many ways to organize messages
Chronologically
Same sender
Same receiver
Threads provides another way
under the same subject, in the same topic
Easy to retrieve a set of topic related messages

10. Instant Messenger (IM)
Synchronous and distributed
“talk” on UNIX in old days
Popular for similarity to human talking
A common space shows dialogue history
Both people can type at the same time
Must has a screen name
e.g., atouchofwind
both sides have to use the same provider

11. Internet Relay Chat (IRC)
Synchronous and distributed
Like IM, but with lots more people
Same thing as a chat room on AOL
Whole lines are sent at a time
Each line is labeled with the sender’s screenname
Still not allowed in open labs at UMD?
Was simply too popular!
Yahoo chat:

12. Netmeeting
The idea of real-time communication between pairs or groups over the internet or intranet using audio, video and data communication.
Also refers to Microsoft software
Popular in corporations
Especially in economic downturns

13. Successful Story: Glass wall
Glass wall at PARC
Facilitates unplanned interactions
Supports informal communications

14. Hands on Point: Shared White Board
Open a browser
Go to
Login with a screen name
Click “draw” if it is available
Draw a circle or add things
Click “release” once you are down
Another example: Coccinella:

15. Tools inside class/meeting room
Synchronous and Local
Support face to face communication
Meeting support systems
Brainstorming
Online review
Annotated minutes
Example
Multichat, one minute paper

16. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW)
Also known as “groupware”
Work
Grounded in the study of work processes
Cooperative
Assumes a shared objective, task
Information technology supported
Computers are just one type of tools used

17. Key factors in CSCW Combined, integrated technologies
Communication and coordination within the group,
Main challenges are from social, not technical or economic

18. Key Issues in CSCW group awareness, multi-user interfaces,
concurrency control,
communication and coordination within the group,
shared information space and
the support of a heterogenous, open environment

19. Case Study: Virtual Reference
Reference and virtual reference
Is virtual reference CSCW?
What are the required functions of virtual reference systems?

20. Case Study: Virtual Reference and CMC tools
Pros and cons of using each CMC techniques in virtual reference?

21. The Real Example What about your project team coordination?
Face to face meetings
What about other means of CMC?

22. Educational Computing
Computer Assisted Education
What most people think of first
Computer Managed Instruction
What most people really do first!
Computer Mediated Communication
All that CSCW stuff applied to education
Computer-Based Multimedia
Just another filmstrip machine?

23. Rationales Pedagogic Vocational Social Catalytic
Use computers to teach
Vocational
Computer programming is a skill like typing
Social
Computers are a part of the fabric of society
Catalytic
Computers are symbols of progress

24. Conditions for Success
Most prerequisites are not computer-specific
Need, know-how, time, commitment, leadership, incentives, expectations
In one study, only one addressed resources
The most important barrier isn’t either
Teacher time is by far the most important factor

25. Alternatives Facilities Objectives
Computer classrooms (e.g., teaching theaters)
Computers IN classrooms (e.g., HBK 3108)
Objectives
“Computer Literacy” is the most common class
Not so in the Maryland teaching theaters
Comparatively few technology classes

26. Discussion Point: Computers as Educational Media
What are the most salient characteristics
Books
Video
Computers
Books: Stable - you can read them at your own pace, not dependent on other media
Video: Transient, dynamic, multisensory
Computers: Interactive, process-based Plus salient characteristics of video and books

27. Distance Education Correspondence courses came first
Focus on dissemination and evaluation
Instructional television was next
Dissemination, interaction, and evaluation
Ordinary television supports only dissemination
Computer Assisted Instruction
Same three functions
Goal is to be better, cheaper, or both

28. Discussion Point: distance education vs face-to-face teaching
What we gain from distance education?
What we lose from distance education?

29. Case Study: How WebCT was selected
Course Management System
CT stands for Course Tools
Integrated set of education tools for
Facilitating learning, communications
Organizing course and admin materials
Face-to-face to online distance learning

30. Evaluating a Web course management tool
Features
Backend
Others
Annotation, Browser support
Bulletin Board, Calendar,
Chat, , File uploads
Graded Assessment, HTML Links
Import/Export Capabilities,
Instructor Customization,
Listserv support, Login Security
Multimedia, Multiple Security Levels, Online grading, Online help,Progress Tracking , Self Assessment, Setup wizards, Student Groups, User Interface, Whiteboarding
CGI Scripts
Course Archive/Backup
Database Access
Development Platform (OS, Web)
EXE file support
Java
Logging
Security
Server Type (Unix, NT)
SSL Compliance
Student data batch input
Cost
IMS Compliance
Site License
Training
Upgrades
Vendor Partnerships
FeaturesBack-endOther
1998
From Sunil Hazari

31. Project Evaluation Review: Usability testing Survey
Informal colleague review
Formal expert review
Usability testing
Study the usefulness of the system
Informal or formal
Survey
Clear goal first, then focused items next

32. Usability Testing Two key issues Black box tests Glass box tests
Test types
Sampling strategies
Black box tests
Assumes no knowledge of the design
For example, test every link on every page
Glass box tests
Use design knowledge to test likely failures
For example, run queries that exercise joins

33. Sampling Strategies Systematic tests Ad hoc tests Broad tests
Web page example: test every link from the top page
Database example: Run each query once
Deep tests
Web page example: follow a full sequence of links
Database example: Run a query with different data
Ad hoc tests
Specify how users are selected, give them a task

34. Golden rules Test often Select the right tester
During the development stage
After completion
Select the right tester
Anyone but the developer