Teamwork Development across the Curriculum for Information Technology Students at Liepāja University: Processes, Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Authors

  • Dzintars Tomsons Liepaja University (LV)
  • Anita Jansone Liepaja University (LV)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2015vol4.408

Keywords:

assessment, blended learning, Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, e-learning, generic competences, teamwork

Abstract

Teamwork skills are key feature for Information Technology (IT) specialists. The university IT curriculum contains both IT specific courses, and comprehensive courses. Due to limited amount of the learning courses and efficient achievement of learning goals, it is necessary to look for opportunities to integrate activities developing social and communication skills courses into IT specific courses. Managing the teamwork that is close to practice, it is necessary to solve the problems of teaching and learning organisation, and assessment of individual learning outcomes and competences. In Liepāja University, the student teamwork has been managed for several years as integral part of Software Engineering courses and study projects. The course management system Moodle has been used in learning process providing possibilities to evaluate both assignments submitted by students and their learning behaviour.  The current paper describes and analyses the experience of academic staff of Liepāja University.

References

ABET – Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (2014). Criteria for accrediting computing programs. Retrieved from: http://www.abet.org/cac-criteria-2015-2016/

ACM/IEEE-CS Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula. 2013. Computer Science Curricula 2013. ACM Press and IEEE Society Press. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1145/2534860

Agudo-Peregrina, Á. F., Iglesias-Pradas, S., Conde-González, M. Á., & Hernández-García, Á. (2014). Can we predict success from log data in VLEs? Classification of interactions for learning analytics and their relation with performance in VLE supported F2F and online learning. Computers in Human Behavior, 31, 542–550.

Alexander, P. M. (2006). Virtual teamwork in very large undergraduate classes. Computers & Education, 47(2), 127–147.

Fidalgo-Blanco, Á., Sein-Echaluce, M.L., García-Peñalvo, F.J., Conde, M. Á. (2015) Using Learning Analytics to improve teamwork assessment. Computers in Human Behavior. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.050

Horizon (2014). NMC horizon report. 2014 Higher Education Edition. Retrieved from http://www.nmc.org/publications/2014-horizon-report higher-ed

Huang, R., Kahai, S., & Jestice, R. (2010). The contingent effects of leadership on team collaboration in virtual teams. Computers in Human Behavior, 26(5), 1098–1110.

Iglesias-Pradas, S., Ruiz-de-Azcárate, C., & Agudo-Peregrina, Á. F. (2014). Assessing the suitability of student interactions from Moodle data logs as predictors of cross-curricular competencies. Computers in Human Behavior. Retrieved from http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.09.065

Jansone, A. (2011). Liepājas Universitātes informācijas tehnoloģiju studiju programmu atbilstība pasaules sabiedrības attīstības tendencēm, 13th International Scientific Conference „Society and Culture: Chaos and Harmony“(pp. 837–844), Liepāja: Liepāja University

Kashefia, H., Ismailb, Z., Yusofc, Y., M. (2012). The Impact of Blended Learning on Communication Skills and Teamwork of Engineering Students in Multivariable Calculus. Social and Behavioral Sciences, 56, 341-347.

Lingard, R.W. (2010). Teaching and Assessing Teamwork Skills in Engineering and Computer Science. Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 8 (1), 34-37.

Perez Martinez, J. E., Garcia Martin, J., & Sierra Alonso, A. (2014). Teamwork competence and academic motivation in computer science engineering studies. Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON) (pp. 778–783). Istanbul, Turkey, 3–5 April 2014, IEEE-Xplore.

Salas, E., Tannenbaum, S., Cohen, D., & Latham, G. (2013). Developing and enhancing teamwork in organizations: Evidence based best practices and guidelines. July 2013, Jossey-Bass. Retrieved from http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1118145895.html

Sfard, A. (1998). On two metaphors for learning and the dangers of choosing just one. Educational Researcher, 27(2), 4-13.

Smith, M.K. (2005). Bruce W. Tuckman - forming, storming norming and performing in groups. The Encyclopaedia of Informal Education. Retrieved from http://infed.org/mobi/bruce-w-tuckman-forming-storming-norming-and-performing-in-groups/

Ulmane-Ozolina, L. (2011). Technology Use for Collaboration in Blended Learning. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 33, 83-90.

Vogel, D. R., Davison, R. M., & Shroff, R. H. (2001). Sociocultural learning: A perspective on GSS-enabled global education. Communications of the Association for Information Systems, 7 (1), 9.

Downloads

Published

2015-05-18

How to Cite

Tomsons, D., & Jansone, A. (2015). Teamwork Development across the Curriculum for Information Technology Students at Liepāja University: Processes, Outcomes and Lessons Learned. SOCIETY. INTEGRATION. EDUCATION. Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference, 4, 509-518. https://doi.org/10.17770/sie2015vol4.408