SIG: Group Solutions (GSS)

Ms Louise Hawkins
Convenor

Archived SIG - no longer active

This SIG has amalgamated with the BOL and the PTO SIGs to become the new PETO SIG (May, 2011)

Purpose 

GSS research interests include:

1. Activity Theory as a tool for understanding and explaining complex human activities and how they interact with their environment and evolve. We are particularly interested in what happens when new technology is inserted into the human activity.
2. Knowledge Management (KM) including
   1. Collaborative Knowledge Building (CKB),
   2. Knowledge sharing,
   3. Planning activities
   4. Facilitation activities
   5. Conceptual models of collaborative systems such as that described by Engeström (2008) (knotworking and boundary object transformations).
3. Use of technology (such as ICT, Groupware - Zing) for human activities:
   1. Collecting qualitative data through the use of technology supported focus groups
   2. Technology support for CKB and group work (problem solving, brainstorming, team learning).
   3. KM activities
   4. Educational activities, especially technology used to improve pedagogy.

Core philosophy:

• - Eclectic ‘style' of looking at research and/or problems.
• - Research traditions
• o Qualitative such as research conducted under Social constructivist, Pragmatism (Garrison 1995, Kivinen & Ristela 2003) and Phenomenology... (add more)
• - Design based research, also encompasses Developmental research (such as Change Laboratory, Engeström 2008), Mixed methods .
• - GSS is about people, groups, groupware, KM ......

Engeström, Y. 2008, From Teams to Knots. Activity-Theoretical Studies of Collaboration and Learning at Work, New York: Cambridge University Press.
Garrison, J. 1995, Deweyan Pragmatism and the Epistemology of Contemporary Social Constructivism, American Educational Research Journal, Vol. 32, No. 4, 716-740
Kivinen, O. & Ristela, P. 2003, From Constructivism to a Pragmatist conception of learning. Oxford Review of Education, Vol 29, No. 3.

Strategic Deliverables

TBA

Members

GSS currently has 12 Members (Last updated March 2011)

Additional Detail

RFCDs
Possible RFCDs to focus on include:

• 130103 Higher Education
• 130309 Learning Sciences
• 130306 Educational Technology & computing
• 080609 Information Systems Management
• 080605 Decision Support and Group Support Systems
• 150301 Business Information Management incl. Records, Knowledge and Information Management, and Intelligence
• 150302 Business Information Systems

Tentative RFCD focus:

• 130309 Learning Sciences
• 130306 Educational Technology & computing
• 080605 Decision Support and Group Support Systems
• 150301 Business Information Management incl. Records, Knowledge and Information Management, and Intelligence

Archives
Thankyou to our Inaugural Convenor - A/Prof Greg Whymark, (February 2010 - February 2011)