Overcoming Barriers between Volunteer Professionals Advising Project-Based Learning Teams with Regulation Tools

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Overcoming Barriers between Volunteer Professionals Advising Project-Based Learning Teams with Regulation Tools
Language: English
Authors: Rees Lewis, Daniel G., Easterday, Matthew W., Harburg, Emily, Gerber, Elizabeth M., Riesbeck, Christopher K.
Source: British Journal of Educational Technology. May 2018 49(3):354-369.
Availability: Wiley-Blackwell. 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148. Tel: 800-835-6770; Tel: 781-388-8598; Fax: 781-388-8232; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2018
Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Contract Number: IIS1320693
IIS1530833
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Descriptors: Barriers, Student Projects, Teaching Methods, Computer Mediated Communication, Goal Orientation, Interviews, Observation, Data Analysis, Active Learning, Teamwork, Specialists, College Students, Program Descriptions, Management Systems, Cues, Coaching (Performance), Professional Personnel
DOI: 10.1111/bjet.12550
ISSN: 0007-1013
Abstract: To provide the substantial support required for project-based learning (PBL), educators can incorporate professional experts as "design coaches." However, previous work shows barriers incorporating design coaches who can rarely meet face-to-face: (1) communication online is time-consuming, (2) updating coaches online is not perceived as valuable, (3) students do not seek help, (4) coaches are not proactive online and (5) coaches struggle to gain the awareness from student online communications. How might we design socio-technical systems that can incorporate professionals coaching? In a 6-week university PBL product design program with three teams (four members per team) and five coaches, teams met with coaches on campus for 2-hours a week, but otherwise communicated with teams online. We created and tested "StandUp," a system designed to overcome coaching barriers online that: prompts team planning, goal setting and monitoring of progress and displays this information online to coaches. We collected and analyzed interview, observation and log data. We found "StandUp" helped participants overcome coaching barriers by providing students a way to regulate group learning which in turn automatically emailed reports to coaches thereby supporting coach awareness; coach awareness in turn prompted both online coaching and face-to-face coaching. This work provides evidence from one context. Future work should measure learning and explore different regulation scripts.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2018
Accession Number: EJ1175563
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:To provide the substantial support required for project-based learning (PBL), educators can incorporate professional experts as "design coaches." However, previous work shows barriers incorporating design coaches who can rarely meet face-to-face: (1) communication online is time-consuming, (2) updating coaches online is not perceived as valuable, (3) students do not seek help, (4) coaches are not proactive online and (5) coaches struggle to gain the awareness from student online communications. How might we design socio-technical systems that can incorporate professionals coaching? In a 6-week university PBL product design program with three teams (four members per team) and five coaches, teams met with coaches on campus for 2-hours a week, but otherwise communicated with teams online. We created and tested "StandUp," a system designed to overcome coaching barriers online that: prompts team planning, goal setting and monitoring of progress and displays this information online to coaches. We collected and analyzed interview, observation and log data. We found "StandUp" helped participants overcome coaching barriers by providing students a way to regulate group learning which in turn automatically emailed reports to coaches thereby supporting coach awareness; coach awareness in turn prompted both online coaching and face-to-face coaching. This work provides evidence from one context. Future work should measure learning and explore different regulation scripts.
ISSN:0007-1013
DOI:10.1111/bjet.12550