ICT Mediated Collaborative Learning: a learner-centred approach to improving ICT literacy and employability of business graduates

This paper examines the creation of customised Information\ud Communication Technology (ICT) intensive collaborative learning spaces to facilitate effective teamwork and enhance communication and problem solving skills of students in Business degrees at Victoria University. A\ud recent survey (2006) of business practitioners, HR managers, business alumni and academics, reveals that ICT\ud literacy is rated by all groups as the most important area of academic and technical knowledge. Moreover, alumni rated ‘business information systems’ as the most important subject studied in relation to the performance of their current role, while knowledge and understanding of information technology was highlighted by business respondents as critical for future business graduates. This paper examines an innovative approach to teaching utilising ICT mediated collaborative learning spaces that enable a range of innovative learning activities including: team-based work and information exchange; research and reporting; resource discovery and data mining; multimedia reporting, idea organizing, and presentation construction; e-portfolios and peer review; local and remote collaborative\ud exchange, including international collaboration between project teams working in Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur and Liaoning. Innovation in curricula, pedagogy and learning spaces is essential to developing ICT literacy for future managers and industry leaders.\u