Cooperation Technology

This course introduces ICT-supported collaboration based on the research area ‘Computer Supported Cooperative Work’ (CSCW). Students in this course will become familiar with issues and concepts that are traditionally discussed as part of interaction technology, as well as how the topic has evolved and developed over time. Students will build an understanding of interaction as context dependent and that digital interaction takes various forms with different approaches to the use of collaboration technology. Students will apply key CSCW concepts and explore CSCW issues using various tools. Through this, the students will also gain an understanding of how collaborative technology can support their own learning process over the course of the study programme.

After completing the course, the following overall learning outcomes should be achieved:

Knowledge

Students should:

• Be able to explain what key concepts from the Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) entail.
• Know that ICT-based collaboration can take place synchronously and/or asynchronously between people who are co-located and/or distributed, across socio-cultural distances and in different realities, and be able to explain what this entails.
• Understand selected and current collaboration tools, as well as know in which context different tools are suitable and why.
• Be able to explain that CSCW is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on groups' application of technological solutions to achieve good and sustainable collaboration. Sustainable collaboration requires both awareness of one's own role, and the parties' ability to interact constructively and empathetically with others in work and everyday life, as well as in problem and conflict resolution.

Skills

Students should:

• Be able to identify the types of collaboration tools that can be used in different contexts.
• Be able to provide qualified advice and recommendations in relation to organizations’ use of various collaboration technological solutions.
• Be able to use relevant collaboration tools to lead or carry out interactive processes.
• Be able to demonstrate how social platforms and media contribute to social visibility between individuals and can support collaboration skills in today's organisations.
• Be able to explain how collaboration tools can support reflection and learning.

General competencies

Students should:

• Be able to apply collaboration technology so that it contributes to increased efficiency and quality in an organization and in projects that involve several parners, co-located and distributed.
• Contribute to the understanding that interdisciplinary needs must be met if the whole is to be as good as possible.
• Contribute to ethical and value-based reflection comprising a holistic perspective that includes, among other things: own role, sensitive data and personal information; as well as the dimensions of sustainability: social, individual, 'green', economic and technological.

Students will participate in active learning while utilizing relevant interaction technology, as well as partake in lectures. The course has several group-based activities, including presentations.