Conference Panels

International Standardisation for Collaborative Learning Technologies

Moderator

Toshio Okamoto, Professor, Lab. of Knowledge Computing and Educational Technology, The Graduate School of Information Systems, University of Electro-Communications, Japan

Toshio Okamoto received the Ph.D. degree from Tokyo institute of Technology in 1988. He is now a professor at the University of Electro-Communications, Graduate School of Information Systems. His research interests include theoretical and application studies/design of artificial intelligence, computer-supported collaborative learning systems, and curriculum development/ evaluation in Information education. He was a member of the millennium project on IT education under Japanese Government (2000-2002). He is also a convener of WG2 (Collaborative Technology) of LTSC/ISO SC36 (Learning Technologies Standards Committee). Currently he is the president of the Japanese Society for Information and Systems in Education (JSiSE).
 

Panel's Topic
There has been growing interest in the use of Internet and WWW to achieve collaborative and cooperative activities. Collaborative learning in E-learning networks provides great opportunities to work together to accomplish shared learning goals and objects. In other words, collaborative learning stresses the importance of shared dialogue and inquiry, which can be realized the development of communication technologies.
In order to promote the collaborative learning over the Internet and distributed environments, we need to standardize the technology for collaborative learning in E-learning networks. This challenge to support communication in E-learning networks might propose the common platform for educators, learners and IT engineers in education.
 
Panelists

Jaakko Kurhila, senior lecturer, Department of Computer Science, University of Helsinki, Finland

Jaakko Kurhila received his MSc and PhLic degrees in Computer Science from the University of Helsinki, Finland.  The responsibilities in his position as a senior lecturer (since 2000) at the Department of Computer Science include researching, developing and teaching issues related to Web-based learning environments and technology.  In addition, he has recently been involved in various strategical teaching development efforts and virtual university planning activities.  His research interests have ranged from adaptive environments for special and elementary education to computer science education and ways to support student-centered learning and learning communities in the Web.

Yasuhisa Tamura, senior lecturer, Department of Mechanical Engineering & Education & Research Center for Information Science, Sophia University, Japan
Dr. Tamura is a lecturer of Mechanical Engineering Department and Education & Research Center for Information Science at Sophia University, Japan. His research interest includes e-Learning, learningmedia, learning psychology, and learning material development process. He received B.E., M.E., and Dr.Eng. from Sophia University Japan in 1985, 1987, 1996 respectively. He joined Hitachi Corporation in 1987 for R&D of high performance computer architecture. In 1993 he moved to Sophia University. He is a member of IEEE, ACM, IPSJ, IEICE, JSAI, JET, JSiSE, and JDLA
Dale Musser, Ph.D., The Ohio State University (http://www.dalemusser.net)
is the Project Director for the Shadow netWorkspace project as well as an Assistant Professor in Network Learning Systems in the School of Information Science & Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  He previously worked for IBM developing multimedia and network-based learning, game and entertainment software.  His research and development work focuses on the design, development and implementation of networked environments to support communication, collaboration and learning with an emphasis on using social computing theory as a driver for the designs. The Shadow netWorkspace project (http://sns.internetschools.org) provides a free, open-source, implementation of a web-based learning, collaboration and work environment.  He co-founded the Center for Technology Innovations in Education (http://www.ctie.missouri.edu) with James Laffey in 1995 in the College of Education at the University of Missouri