Computer-mediated communication in the information curriculum: an initiative in computer-supported collaborative learning

Abstract

Organizational life is being transformed by the use of communication technologies to support enhanced information flow, and group project and decision processes. The knowledge and skills to utilise and develop these technologies effectively are required by professionals in many types of organization, although the information manager has a particular responsibility in this respect. This paper describes an innovative new course aimed at undergraduates from any discipline. The Internet is the learning environment for the course, providing both the technologies for communication between participants, and a key information resource. As an initiative in computer-supported collaborative learning, a central aim of the curriculum design is to facilitate collaborative and independent learning by electronic means. The module is based upon active learning principles, and learning is facilitated primarily through electronically-mediated group project work. Students gain practical experience of a variety of communication technologies, as a means of encouraging the development of skills in computer-mediated communication for project management. For instance, UseNet newsgroups are used to support project group conferencing.