Kong, S.C., Ogata, H., Arnseth, H.C., Chan, C.K.K., Hirashima, T., Klett, F., Lee, J.H.M., Liu, C.C., Looi, C.K., Milrad, M., Mitrovic,
A., Nakabayashi, K., Wong, S.L., Yang, S.J.H. (eds.) (2009). Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers in
Education [CDROM] . Hong Kong: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.
Design and Implementation of a Collaborative
learning System to Support Software
Engineering Tasks
Fang-Fang CHUAa, Kenneth YOUb, Zhi Hung CHUc
Faculty of Information Technology, Multimedia University, Malaysia
b
Faculty of Information Technology, Multimedia University, Malaysia
c
Faculty of Information Technology, Multimedia University, Malaysia
ffchua@mmu.edu.my
a
Abstract: Collaborative learning focuses on generation of interaction, discussion and
collaboration in the team environment. It serves as the learning approach which involves
the collaborative community. In this paper, we design and implement a
computer-supported collaborative learning environment called Zeebo to address the
current limitations of the existing collaborative learning systems to support software
engineering tasks. Learners can share the learning contents and involve in the interactive
discussion in a user-friendly workspace. Learners are to facilitate the collaboration
activities in achieving their learning goals as in to complete the software engineering tasks
which include identifying problem statements, diagramming, coding and etc.
Keywords: collaborative learning, concept mapping, discussion, interaction, software
engineering
Introduction
Computer turns into an essential part of our lives where education is not an exception with
the help of the internet. The internet links multiple users together no matter where they are
which encourage the information sharing within each other. Education should emphasize
more on the process of creating conducive environments rather than merely on the product
of learning. As [1] observes, "In education, one should concentrate less on creating
process of instruction, but more on the process of creating learning environments”.
Collaborative learning which serves as an important part of e-learning; helps in increasing
interactivity and accessibility to various learning resources either synchronously or
asynchronously among users. We carried out the comparison study between different
collaborative learning systems to identify the limitation on the existing features. We then
identified our collaborative learning system design and implementation’s scope in solving
software engineering tasks for a group of users. This is a common challenge faced by most
of the project groups in companies and campus environments whereby they need a
common workspace for discussion and information sharing in completing all the tasks
required in succeeding a software engineering project. We have carried out the case study
with our designed system called Zeebo within a group of undergraduate students in
completing their software engineering tasks.
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Kong, S.C., Ogata, H., Arnseth, H.C., Chan, C.K.K., Hirashima, T., Klett, F., Lee, J.H.M., Liu, C.C., Looi, C.K., Milrad, M., Mitrovic,
A., Nakabayashi, K., Wong, S.L., Yang, S.J.H. (eds.) (2009). Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers in
Education [CDROM] . Hong Kong: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.
1. Research Objectives
Most of the e-learning systems are lacking of common workspace for communication and
collaboration purposes. The current existing collaborative learning environments do not
provide a user-friendly environment to ease the users’ navigation in accessing the learning
materials and to interact with other users. The main objectives of our research are to
provide a user-friendly common workspace for the users (learners, administrator and
tutors) for communication purposes and to ease their adaptation in utilizing the system’s
functionalities in completing their software engineering tasks.
2. Related Works
2.1 Collaborative Learning
The backbone of collaborative learning is the willingness of the students to participate and
collaborate in a constructive sense. Theoretically, collaborative learning promotes a
cooperative atmosphere, rather than a competitive one, due to the fact that students are
invested in each other’s learning, not just their own. The primary goals for the students are
creating leadership responsibilities in the group and to participate equally and actively in
group discussions. It is agreed that collaboration learning is most effective when the
students have the knowledge to collaborate. In this case, collaboration is used to reiterate
and internalize what the students have already learnt beforehand. Students may give
comments and feedbacks on each other’s idea, criticize and giving better solutions,
brainstorm to come up with more ideas. [2] proposed that a collaborative learning
environment can have the following set of roles: decomposing, defining, critiquing,
convincing, reviewing, and referencing.
2.2 Main Features of Collaborative Learning Systems
Different types of collaborative learning systems are studied and compared to identify the
main features to be incorporated in our proposed system Zeebo. IBM® Workplace
Collaborative Learning™ [3] offers users to organize their training programs. This product
provides administrative capabilities which allow users to effectively manage their learning
activities, resources, and courseware. Users are able to manage their subjects/course
achievements and progress. ZoHo Personal [4] is a web-based application for
multipurpose from personal use, academic purposes or even small enterprises. It offers
several useful applications which ease user’s work, from mail, calendar to web
conferencing. We + [5] provides a workspace for users allowing them to participate in
project they are working on. We + allows several function such as Wiki, Mail which allow
project manager to communicate with their down line. OLAT [6] is an open source web
based program which allow multi user, such as admin, students or guest to login to an
E-Learning environment. Another learning system which was studied is Vyew [7]. It is a
web based application which allows users to share online collaboration and conference
with multi-user which includes a workspace at the left hand side and the chat box at the
right hand side. Our proposed collaborative learning system Zeebo has incorporated all the
basic functionalities and its unique contribution is that the system is delegated for users to
learn and write computer programs in the Coding Board implemented. The programming
activities are essential as part of the process in completing their software engineering
tasks. Another main contribution of Zeebo includes the implementation of White Board
which allows users to express and visualize their ideas in the common workspace
synchronously.
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Kong, S.C., Ogata, H., Arnseth, H.C., Chan, C.K.K., Hirashima, T., Klett, F., Lee, J.H.M., Liu, C.C., Looi, C.K., Milrad, M., Mitrovic,
A., Nakabayashi, K., Wong, S.L., Yang, S.J.H. (eds.) (2009). Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers in
Education [CDROM] . Hong Kong: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.
3. Designed Functionalities
The designed functionalities are described in details as below:-
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hosting & Joining Meeting – Allows user to host meetings and the involved group
members are able to join in the hosted meetings.
Coding Board – A workspace for student to perform programming activities.
White board – A workspace for student to doodle with several tools: pen tool, shape,
color, and ink for expressing and visualizing their ideas.
Concept mapping – Allows users to draw their own group concept maps for their
project with the designed tools : shape, color ink, pen tool, symbol , line, and eraser
Word Processing
- A workspace for student to generate their reports with the
designed editing components: font size, bold, italic, underline, and alignment.
User Control Panel – Allows user to manage their contact lists between their friends
and tutors. Users can send e-mails, visit the official forum, browse the official Wiki,
add reminder and notes and view the calendar.
Chat Room – Allows learners to communicate with other members and tutors.
Moderator Control – Allows the meeting moderator to change the meeting controls.
4. Implementation Results
We have used Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server2008 to implement
Zeebo. The main screen of Zeebo is as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Main screen of Zeebo
5. Case Study
A group of undergraduate students which pursuing Bachelor of Information Technology in
Multimedia University have been assigned to develop a Badminton Hall Booking system
for their assignment of the subject Software Engineering Fundamentals. Students are
required to complete all the software engineering tasks to develop the software and
generate the report. The tasks include identifying problem statements and user
requirements, drawing diagrams, programming activities and generating documents. Due
to the time/place constraints for the students to meet up and discuss frequently for
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Kong, S.C., Ogata, H., Arnseth, H.C., Chan, C.K.K., Hirashima, T., Klett, F., Lee, J.H.M., Liu, C.C., Looi, C.K., Milrad, M., Mitrovic,
A., Nakabayashi, K., Wong, S.L., Yang, S.J.H. (eds.) (2009). Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers in
Education [CDROM] . Hong Kong: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.
completing the assignment, they have used Zeebo to facilitate their assignment completion.
The steps below show the scenario which was carried out by one of the assignment group
in completing their software engineering tasks. First of all, the group leader Ali, who has
just installed Zeebo, creates a new account for the first time.
Step 1: Ali selected the REGISTER button and inputted the essential personal details.
Step 2: Next, Ali logged in with his new account and password after the registration
process had been successful.
Step 3: Since Ali is the group leader, he will be the one who host the meeting session.
Step 4: The group leader will choose a room number and an input password if it is
essential for the meeting to be private.
Step 5: The group members joined the meeting and started their discussion. Jane, the
programmer of the group uploaded and compiled the code in the Coding Board in Zeebo
which she had done earlier. Cathy, which is also one of the members from the group,
discovers that there is a problem with her code after compilation.
Step 6: Ali pin pointed out the problem parts to Jane by locking the controls in the work
space and shifting the screen view to the White Board to make sure the entire group
member pays attention to the explanations. (As shown in Figure 2)
Step 7: After Ali unlocked the work space, John uploaded the diagram that he had
completed earlier on the Concept Mapping screen. This view is from John’s screen. (As
shown in Figure 3)
Step 8: Upon completing the explanation, Ali unlocked the work space and continues their
discussion. After that, Ali asked another group member, John whether if he has finished
doing the research for the documentation and John uploaded his work on the Word
Processing screen.
Step 9: The group ended their discussion for the day and sets a reminder for the next
meeting on the upcoming week, thus ending their group discussion and learning for the
day.
Figure 2. White Board View
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Kong, S.C., Ogata, H., Arnseth, H.C., Chan, C.K.K., Hirashima, T., Klett, F., Lee, J.H.M., Liu, C.C., Looi, C.K., Milrad, M., Mitrovic,
A., Nakabayashi, K., Wong, S.L., Yang, S.J.H. (eds.) (2009). Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Computers in
Education [CDROM] . Hong Kong: Asia-Pacific Society for Computers in Education.
Figure 3. Concept Mapping View
6. Conclusion
Collaboration has been shown to be an effective medium that exposes learners to diverse
perspectives on brainstorming and stimulating reflection. In this paper, we have proposed
a collaborative learning system, Zeebo to support software engineering tasks.
Collaboration is particularly important for a group of users to access to a common
workspace in solving their software engineering tasks such as deriving requirements,
modelling and also programming .Comparison study is carried out and limitation of the
features of current existing system are identified and improved in Zeebo. A case study was
conducted to show the usability and feasibility of Zeebo in helping a group of
undergraduate students in solving their software engineering project problems.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all the participants in using Zeebo to support their software
engineering project completion.
References
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available at http://www.wit.ie/library/webct/staff/isd.html
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report, ARIES Laboratory, Department of Computational Science, University of Saskatchewan,
Saskatoon, Canada.
[3] IBM
(2008).
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