Net-scenarios: learning through distributed and asynchronous role-playing

i-Studio 5 seminars - series two, seminar 3: 6 December 2002.

Johan Lundin, Gothenburg University

This paper describes a learning process where sharing and creation of knowledge among mobile and distributed professionals is the main objective. Collaborative learning activities that take place parallel to daily work tasks cannot be handled and understood in the same way as learning within a school setting. To be able to include mobile and distributed workers in collaborative learning activities, the net-scenario was constructed.

The net-scenario is mediated and supports asynchronous use, technologically and methodologically, and is thereby adjusted to the context of distributed users. In the net-scenario, role-playing around a fictional story creates the basis for discussions among the participants. The discussions are essential for the learning process.

However, the participants' progress can differ depending on their daily workload, thus affecting their possibility to part take. Big variations in progress decreases the possibility for collaborative learning concerning the issues presented in the net-scenario.

The main problem addressed in this paper is the difficulty for participants to keep a common progress in asynchronous role-playing. The research question addressed in this paper is: How can collaborative learners in asynchronous role-playing be synchronised?

Three different methods for synchronisation are developed and evaluated: locked scenes, written instructions and collaborative production.

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