The mission of SL2 is to study how computer software can be used to advance social learninglearning through social interaction. We use a design research approach to build software. Our laboratory is currently working on a number of projects including an intelligent online discussion system (IODS) and a design to facilitate virtual conversation and collaboration across the university.

Directors:
Lorne Olfman
Terry Ryan

Current Researchers:
Nimer Alrushiedat
Nathan Botts
Mitch Cochran
Kimberly Douglas
Daniel Firpo
Nathan Garrett
Jesus Canelon Herrera
Sumonta Kasemvilas
Rosemary Kim
Christopher P. Malek
Peter Ractham
Brian Thoms (http://brianthoms.com)
Sonya Zhang

Themes:
Teaching and Learning Applications: Social learning plays an important role in formal educational settings, where it is often supported by software, from email to course management tools to elaborate virtual learning environments. We are studying, from a software design standpoint, how such applications affect teaching and learning. We are interested in improving the software that teachers and students use.

Knowledge Management: Social learning in formal non-educational settings is reflected in the concept of knowledge management (KM). We are interested in designing software that enhances the sharing of knowledge among organizational members. This sharing can include intra as well as inter organizational situations, including communities of practice.

Virtual Collaboration and Conversation: A long-standing research theme of the School of Information Systems and Technology, dating back to the 1980s, is collaboration. We are interested in how to design software systems that help people work together and talk with each other. While such systems are clearly involved in formal educational and non-educational settings, they play an important role in informal settings as well. Our research extends to systems that promote cooperation and dialogue among individuals beyond the boundaries of formal organizations, and the learning that such social interaction allows.

Ongoing Projects:
> Claremont Conversation for the 21st Century
> E-Learning with wikis
> Intelligent Online Discussion Board
> Knowledge Management with wikis
> Social Learning Software Workshop

Claremont Graduate University, IS&T, School of Information Systems and Technology, Social Learning Software, Web 2.0