Ubiquitous Collaboration (Uc) Learning: Connecting The Physical And Virtual Worlds

The workplace is rapidly evolving to reflect distributed workgroups that overcome the barriers created by geographical distance and time. And yet, the technical underpinnings that influence social interactions, contribute to different cultural/organizational contexts, or classroom learning experiences are understudied. This paper provides the research framework for the analysis, research and development of virtual organizations as sociotechnical learning systems with the primary goal of improving team-teaching and distributed team-learning by connecting the physical and virtual worlds. Our research objectives are: (a) to better understand the socio-technical conditions that can enhance ubiquitous learning; (b) to develop and enhance ubiquitous team-collaboration via Ubiquitous Collaboration (uC) Learning systems; and, (c) to examine the impacts of uC in test organizations so as to integrate research, education, and practice. To meet these objectives we have assembled a broadly interdisciplinary and diverse team of researchers with experience spanning sociology, psychology, engineering and business. This approach provide the varied analytical lenses of these disciplines as well as to converge on a richer understanding of distributed collaborative learning in a diverse population- including women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities. © Common Ground, Walter Rodriguez, Stephen M. Fiore, Kristine De Welde, Deborah S. Carstens, Veton Z. Këpuska, All Rights Reserved