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Educational Technology Research and Development

, Volume 67, Issue 6, pp 1507–1527 | Cite as

Computer-supported collaboration: simulation-based training using LEGO®

  • Claudine Bonneau
  • Simon BourdeauEmail author
Development Article
First Online:

Abstract

Learning the effects of proximity and distance in collaborative work and understanding the challenges and possibilities of information technology use in distributed teams can be challenging for students. This paper describes a LEGO® simulation-based training program and shows how the use of LEGO bricks and a videoconferencing platform can help students experience computer-supported collaboration firsthand. Students who participated in simulation-based training sessions adopted different work coordination and information sharing strategies. The working patterns observed during three different simulation-based training sessions were analyzed based on the literature on collaborative work. Findings show that using LEGO bricks to recreate “real-life” situations allows students to immediately immerse themselves in the challenges faced by “virtual workers” and more easily and fully understand and integrate theoretical concepts related to collaborative work and computer-supported collaboration.

Keywords

Collaboration Distributed team Communication technology Simulation-based training LEGO® 
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Notes

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Copyright information

© Association for Educational Communications and Technology 2019

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.École des Sciences de la Gestions, ESG-UQAMMontréalCanada

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