Affiliations: Programa de Pós Graduação em
Informática, Universidade Católica de Santos, R. Dr. Carvalho de
Mendonça, 114, Vila Mathias, Santos-SP, Brazil, 11070-906.
[email protected];
http://www.unisantos.br/mestrado/informatica/professores/marta/index.php | Computer Based Learning Unit, University of Leeds,
Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. [email protected];
http://www.cbl.leeds.ac.uk/~jas/home-page.html
Abstract: Distance Learning from Case Studies involves enabling collaboration
between two or more learners at a distance on a case study activity. In this
paper we present an empirical qualitative study that simulates a learning
scenario in which a pair of subjects at a distance are provided with a
collaborative learning environment and required to collaborate in order to
solve a case study. The results of this empirical qualitative study have
implications that informed the design of a system: LeCS (Learning from Case
Studies). LeCS is a web-based collaborative case study system that can be
applied to any domain in which the learning from case studies method is used.
It provides a set of tools for geographically dispersed students working
collaboratively on the case study solution. In addition, it accomplishes
functions regarding the learning process that together give real-time support
to the distant learners during the development of the case study solution. The
paper gives a general description of LeCS: its user interface, implementation,
and agent-based architecture. Moreover, it describes how LeCS addresses the
recommendations derived from the empirical study.