Hernández-Leo, D.; Balestrini, M.; Nieves, R.; Blat, J.; Exploiting awareness to facilitate the orchestration of collaborative activities in physical spaces, CEUR Proceedings of the 2nd Workshop on Awareness and Reflection in Technology-Enhanced Learning, EC-TEL2012, Saarbrücken, Germany, September 2012 (to be published) More info at http://daviniahl.wordpress.com/sos/

1. GTI http://gti.upf.edu
Davinia Hernández-Leo, Mara Balestrini, Raul Nieves, Josep Blat
Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona
Interactive Technologies Group
http://gti.upf.edu

2. GTI http://gti.upf.edu
Motivation
• Dynamic collaborative activities in physical spaces
(classroom) -> “knowledge-intensive” social interactions
-> learning
• The orchestration “overhead” hinders its adoption:
• Indicate group formation and role assignment for every activity,
distribution of resources/tools, collaboration areas, …
considering the evolution of the learning situation/constraints
• Teachers and students devote attention to orchestration aspects
• Time-consuming, noise / mess effect (disorganization/distraction)
• +demanding when +students
(Connection to virtual spaces… see Hernández-Leo et al., to be published)

3. GTI http://gti.upf.edu
Our statement
• Augmenting physical educational spaces with
“orchestration awareness mechanisms” can facilitate
the orchestration of collaborative dynamics
• Our solution:
Wearable and fixed devices
that “communicate”
orchestration aspects (signals)
• Related work
e.g., ambient displays to support
classroom activity supervision using
interactive lamps (Alavi & Dillenbourg, in press)

4. GTI http://gti.upf.edu
Signal Orchestration System
• Visual and auditory signals (color, blinking, sound,…)
• From manager to wearable devices
Signals collectively perceived
• Examples:
• Colors: group formation, work areas
• Blinking: role distribution
• Sound: change of activity
• (Depends on teachers’ creativity and needs)
• Vs. smart phones
• Sometimes not available / not allowed / cost
• Attention distraction / cognitive load / -agile dynamic
• “Ambient group awareness effect” difficult to achieve !

5. GTI http://gti.upf.edu
Wearable devices: designs / experiments
- Necklace:  + visible,  considerable
size / weight, uncomfortable
- Fabric:  Lighter and thinner,
aesthetically nicer;
 - visible: since + comfortable  risk of
forgetting to check, too similar to clothes
of classmates
- Arm bracelet: intermediate approach,
compact, more robust,
awareness also when sitting down…
(vs. control group:
-time
+ group awareness, enjoyment, performance)
(Hernández-Leo et al., EC-TEL 2011;
Hernández-Leo et al., JUCS to be published)

6. GTI http://gti.upf.edu