The New Zealand qualifications framework - a case of the emperor has no clothes?

No abstract

A collaborative learning trial between New Zealand and Sweden - using Lotus Notes Domino in teaching the concepts of Human Computer Interaction

This paper reports the results of a collaborative learning exercise between students at Auckland Institute of Technology and Uppsala University. The exercise was conducted using both a Lotus Notes Domino collaborative database and electronic mail to support students working in remote groups to perform a common task. Issues concerning the logistics of such an exercise, student participation and evaluations of the process, ethical considerations and the quality of the learning process are discussed. Some conclusions are drawn concerning the value of Group Ware technology to support this form of collaborative learning, and suggestions are made for future developments

Genre structuring in a web-based groupware medium: the evolution of a project progress report

Information Technology supported teaching and learning typically borrows many teaching practices and instruments from previous contexts. These typical practices or instruments can be classified into recognizable types or "genres". There are different ways in which these genres cross the boundaries of action, voice or paper based techniques to their electronically provided alternates. This study applies the framework of "genre structuring" to explore the evolution of a project progressreporting mechanism, re-implemented in a web-based groupware application, and used in several different Information Technology courses over the last three years

"Programming in the large" and the need for professional discrimination

A common goal in teaching capone project and software engieering type courses is to develop in students the capabilities required of a professional software developer. Unfortunately, their prior educational experiences in the computing discipline may have done anything but prepare them for professional practice. Although the situation may vary considerably from country to country and institution to institution, there are several common deficiencies to address

On the necessity of removing 'cruelty' from the teaching of computing

In his famous article [1] Edsger Dijkstra reflected upon how cruel it would be truly to teach computer science. For some reason the CS community over the years have taken the sadistic element of his entreaties to heart. Why is this so? Does it have intuitive appeal to those CS educators who believe in the "hard man" school of computer science and the "real programmers don't eat quiche" model of education

Elearning to whose agenda? The discourse of enterprise v the discourse of community

No abstract

Global virtual teams and 3D collaborative virtual environments

Collaborative virtual environments for desktop PCs. are inherently interesting to use and to develop, and provide motivating and challenging capstone projects for capable students to undertake. From an educational perspective, collaboration in virtual three-dimensional spaces using avatars also adds some interesting dimensions to student learning. This paper reports upon a series of developments, in which collaborative virtual environments have been applied since 2001 to support research into global virtual teams. Specific insights relevant to educators and developers have been gained through a series of local and international collaborative trials, using these 3D environments

Systematic literature reviews and undergraduate research

No abstract

Valuing computer science education research?

This paper critically enquires into the value systems which rule the activities of teaching and research. This critique is intended to demonstrate the application of critical enquiry in Computer Science Education Research and therefore uses critical theory as a method of analysis.A framework of Research as a Discourse is applied to explore how the notions of research as opposed to teaching are presented, and how discipline and research communities are sustained. The concept of a discourse, based upon the work of Foucault, enables critical insight into the processes which regulate forms of thought. This paper positions the field of Computer Science Education Research, as an illustrative case, within the broader discourse of Research, and argues that Computer Science Education Researchers and educators need to understand and engage in this discourse and shape it to their own ends

Using IT for active student feedback in the learning environment

This paper describes the use of a web-based groupware product (specifically a Lotus NotesTM & DominoTM discussion database), as a means of gaining direct and regular feedback from students on the progress of a course. Some of the pitfalls and issues are discussed, including motivation for use, barriers to effective feedback, the value of anonymity and appropriate netiquette. Some recommendations are made for others wishing to use such a feedback mechanism, and for those who do not have Lotus Notes installed, how a feedback system such as this might be implemented in some other web based product