A MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE FOR KNOWLEDGE BUILDING AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING

Abstract

We describe a multimedia tool developed for scaffolding constructive conversation and sharing information by means of a public kiosk. The Multimedia Forum Kiosk (MFK) provides an environment where users communicate asynchronously with video, audio, and text. Unlike unstructured media such as email, the interface provides multiple representations of the structure of the discourse which aid in understanding the previous discussion, eliciting and refining new ideas, and developing a sense of community with other users. The software has undergone evaluation, testing, and revision as a tool for an education research community. Preliminary results indicate that users learn the interface unproblematically without training, and that they successfully explore and contribute to the discussions. We introduce the MFK as a tool for collaborative discussion and learning, and discuss several potential uses for the tool, both pedagogical and utilitarian. A more formal testing plan to evaluate the software and interface design is underway.