1 Building shared instructor and peer support for students projects. Ramón Garrote Tel WebCT – IMPACT 2005 –San Francisco 2005/07/18 -22

2 The author – picture Master of Science, ICT and learning Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering Lecturer and ICT-adviser at three faculties at the University College of Borås (School of Engineering, School of Textiles and at the School of Business and Informatics) Responsible for WebCT as application platform for e-learning

3 Ramón Garrote – CV cont. ICT Adviser in a Asia Link project at the Universities of: –University College of Boras, Sweden –Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia –University of Redding, UK ICT Adviser in the Project ”Better Performance in Industry”, University College of Boras, Sweden

4 Background of the project Projects Degree report, 10 credits(10 weeks work) Often done in companies –Demand specification –Reports to the examiner about the progress

5 Problems to solve Projects Degree report did not meet quality expectations Directing –Keep deadline, due date –Feed-back to students Lots of students work on their own could cause “isolation” Consequences -delayed or not finished papers

6 Questions/reflections How could follow-up and feedback to students be improved? How to help students to write the Project Degree reports and improve the content? How to influence students to finish their Project Degree reports in due time?

7 Purpose Improve Project Degree reports Improve follow-up Increase number of Projects Degree reports finished in due time Develop and encourage social interaction and cooperation while producing Project Degree reports

8 Target group Students studying last year at University of Borås, School of Technology, Computer Technology Program

9 Planning  Discussions together with students –How to improve Project Degree reports ? –How to improve instruction to get Project Degree reports finished in due time? –How to get continuous feed-back about the progress of the Project Degree reports ? –How to avoid working alone

10 Planning  After discussions with students the following method was suggested –Web based education tool (WebCT) –Discussion room –Calendar –Common area with weekly report on progress, working papers, opposition and final Project Degree reports

11 Accomplishment The Project Degree reports were gathered as a course in a web based education tool (WebCT) Means of assistance to students –Discussion room for common communication and problem solving –Common area –Calendar

12 Result  Discussion room –Communication between students –Agreed upon common meetings –Exchange of ideas and tips –Supported each other to find solutions for different problems

13 Result  Calendar –Students could make “public” statements, book meetings and announce important common activities as fairs, exhibitions, etc.

14 Result Common data area –Weekly reports about their Project Degree report –Development of projects could be followed by everybody –Continuous feed-back –Great involvement –Good oppositions –Considerable improvements of Project Degree reports

15 Result Less administration time of the Project Degree reports Faster feedback to the students 7 of 8 Project Degree reports were finished in due time 1 student short. He got a job during the semester