-- KITL Introduction to project

The Knowledge Innovation & Technology Lab (KITL): a new space for collaboration and knowledge creation and exchange.

Introduction

In recent years technology has become a perceived common tool within many environments, both personal and professional. The impact of technologies within our society, causes people to pay attention to how communications and knowledge exchange can be enhanced, however technology communications can cause barriers. The use of artifacts and technology, human activities, both non-verbal and verbal practices can be very complex and rich learning environment.

The Knowledge Innovation & Technology Lab (KITL), located at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE/UT), is a state of the arts facility that houses many tools for distributive knowledge building communities. The communication tools of interest for our KMD 1002 project are both the web-based collaboration tool designed to provide full feature support for online meetings, and the Polyvision Thunder system, a collaboration tool allowing people to locally learn together with others in other cities and countries. In addition, the focus within the KITL room is the augmentation of video capabilities. Video technology has a potential for understanding human behaviours and social patterns of interaction. This is essential is establishing criteria for optimum group environments for learning and collaboration.

The objectives of this project will be to investigate the uses of the communication technologies within the KITL room and to follow the growth and patterns of knowledge through some social networks. The social networks that are identifies will be novice users of the technology versus more expert users of the technology. The KITL room offers a powerful system to analyze a new technology environment and follow what Suchman (1991) comments on, “ (the) available technologies afford certain resources and constraints on how the wok gets done and peoples’ ways of working give the technologies their shape and significance.” (p. 65). Knowledge media (email, video conferencing, web-related technologies incorporates a new design for our social environment and contexts which promotes more interaction, more sophisticated relationships and real authentic environment with no walls.

Objectives and Goals:

· To create an awareness and understanding of what web-based collaboration tools are and exploration of the Polyvision Thunder system collaboration tool.

· To video the social interaction within the KITL room

· To develop a social context and framework for understanding the patterns within the Thundersystem (within the KITL room).

Framework of Design Methodology:

Presentation 1: (Feb 7th, 2007)

Introduction to KITL room:

1. Initial exposure to video conferencing, presentation of room (stills, and audio only). This provides context of conferencing and social interaction in the absence of video)

2. Theoretical Framework of design and influences (The main themes of this section were the theoretical possibilities)

3. Outline the deadlines and the process.

4. Implications and Outcomes.

(provide link to powerpoint and URL’s exhibiting video conferencing and other communication tools).

Methods of Investigation:

Investigative Questions:

1. How does video enable the understanding of the Thundersystem?

2. How do social actions and social structures create a different type of space for this room?

Qualitative Analysis

• video tape (coding scheme)
• survey (with questions)
• field notes

Video Taping

February 12th, 2007: Expert Group – Video Conferencing and use of Smart Spaces

The meeting within the KITL room will explore the specifications of a "Smart Space" that is general enough that it can be adopted by other researchers, architects or artists. SAIL is the Scalable Architecture for Interactive Learning. (education, art, architecture, engineering), we recognize that only through a specific implementation will we be able to really flesh out our design.

The meeting on February 12th, 2007, will be the first within the KITL room space and will have the focus on purpose of the room from an educational perspective.

Members for meeting: Research educators, architects and administrators and technology designers

Itemize key observations (video)

· Gestures, voice, tone, movement,

· Concepts explored

· Integration of other items (powerpoint, documentations)

· Web-related integration

Discussion:

· Rich environment for communication

· Discussion of open source software and theoretical perspectives

· Activity Theory exploration of other social theories (constructivism)

· Following collaborative video environments

· Scafolded elements within video

· Outline the obstacles and the possible solutions