Here is the Wordle.net word cloud and abstract for work I co-authored, titled, “Online Learning Community Software to Support Success in Project Teams,” which I will present at The Fifth International Conference on Advanced Collaborative Networks, Systems and Applications in Malta next month. Wish me luck!
Abstract—In this research we explore aspects of social interaction and community as they relate to success in project-based courses. Using specialized online community software consisting of social networking technologies and project-based wikis, project teams are able to collaborate and interact as they progress towards project milestones. Our study underscores the importance of sustained engagement as a means for fostering high levels of community and how these levels relate to project motivation and, ultimately, project success. Guided by a theoretical model that explains how individuals collaborate within online communities, we measure member perceptions of the software before and after our intervention. Survey results found that online learning community (OLC) software can successfully support learning and social interaction. These results are supported by a social network analysis (SNA), which shows high levels of individual engagement across the project lifecycle.
Citation
B. Thoms, E. Eryilmaz. “Online Learning Community Software to Support Success in Project Teams,” Fifth International Conference on Advanced Collaborative Networks, Systems and Applications, Oct., 2015.