The Initial Research Proposal

This week we had to put together the plan for our literature review. I struggled with picking a topic, I had a topic, did a heap of reading on that topic and then I changed it, then I had to start again!. 

I think i've now picked my topic for the literature review, although i'm still not feeling 100% about how this will run, but well its a place to start.  The broad topic outline is below.

Broad overview of topic area:Effectiveness of Online Collaborative Learning Tools in organizations where there are technical limitations on the types of collaboration available due to computer system limitations.

Proposed question: Can online collaboration tools in a purely text based form be an effective tool for learners in an organizational context?

Rationale behind the topic: The rationale for this topic comes from my own interest in the area, and how collaborative learning tools can be applied in an organizational context for an organization with locations Australia wide and high level computer system limitations.

The focus will be on the use of online collaborative tools in a purely text based format (wiki’s, blogs etc) and how these can be used to enhance the learning experience of students.

Conceptualisation of Literature Review: There is a large amount of research available in collaborative learning. I have started by reading a range of various articles into collaborative learning, whilst I try and determine the specific topic I was to focus.

I have also started reading journal articles relating to computer mediated communication and human interaction systems to establish how this can be applied in an online capacity.

List of readings (subject to change)
Spector M (2008) – Cognition and learning and the digital age. Promising research and practice. Computers in Human Behaviour 24 (2) 249-262
This article looks at the use online discussions and how this can be used

Winne P. H (2007) The learning kit project: Software tools for supporting and researching regulation of collaborative learning. Computers in Human Behaviour 26 (5) 806-814

This article looks at computer supported collaborative learning. This article also looks at the framework for successful collaboration.

Zhang P (2004) An assessment of human computer interaction research in management information systems: topics and methods. Computers in Human Behaviour 20(2) 125,147

This article looks at human computer interaction

Luppicini R (2007) Review of computer mediated communications research for education. Instructional Science. 35 141-185