http://dpcs.uoc.es/igi08

CALL FOR CHAPTERS - IGI GLOBAL
+ 2-5 Page Proposal Deadline: April 30, 2008
+ Book Title: "Monitoring and Assessment in Online Collaborative Environments: Emergent Computational Technologies for E-learning Support"
+ Keywords: Computer Supported Collaborative Work, Groupware Systems, Monitoring and Assessment, e-Learning
+ A book edited by IGI Publishing
+ Editors: A. Juan(1); T. Daradoumis(2); F. Xhafa(3); S. Caballe(4); J. Faulin(5)

{1, 2, 4} {ajuanp, adaradoumis, scaballe}(a)uoc.edu
{3} fatos(a)lsi.upc.edu
{5} javier.faulin(a)unavarra.es

Department of Computer Sciences, Multimedia and Telecommunication
Open University of Catalonia
Rambla Poblenou, 156, 08018, Barcelona, SPAIN
Tef.: + 34 933 263 627 Fax: + 34 933 568 822

INTRODUCTION
Groupware systems support co-operation among people at different times and geographical locations by providing: online shared spaces, online calendars and agendas, videoconference and instant messages services, web content multi-edition facilities, etc. In the beginning of the Web 2.0 era, such systems are gaining popularity and relevance among organizations such as global enterprises, open and distance universities and research institutes.

Yet, as an emergent area, there are several unsolved problems associated with these systems. In particular, there are no standard models to monitor and perform efficient assessment of individuals' and groups' activity in online collaborative working and learning environments. This issue is especially important in the collaborative e-working or e-learning contexts, since it can provide valuable information to online managers or instructors who may guide and support the development of efficient collaborative projects.

Monitoring activity allows establishing just-in-time assistance for those individuals or groups who need it. This way, both managers and instructors can anticipate potential problems -such as individuals' dropouts or possible conflicts inside the working groups- and take operational and tactical decisions to handle them. Furthermore, managers and instructors can use complementary quantitative and qualitative monitoring reports to develop performance assessment models in groupware systems.

Other unsolved problems are related to the efficient management of computer resources -memory, disc space and processing resources- in the distributed systems over which groupware systems are implemented. These two problems constitute the central focus of this book.

RECOMMENDED TOPICS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING
Chapter proposals are invited for the book "Monitoring and Assessment in Online Collaborative Environments" on any of the topics listed below:

+ Monitoring activity in e-learning
+ Self-, peer- and group-assessment in online collaborative environments
+ Groupware Systems
+ Computer-supported collaborative learning
+ Distributed e-learning environments
+ Web-based instruction/learning
+ Evaluation of e-learning technology systems
+ Free and open source software for online collaborative learning
+ Simulation-supported learning and instruction in e-learning
+ E-learning management systems
+ Emerging technologies in online collaborative environments
+ Grid technologies for e-learning
+ Technology-driven e-learning models and strategies
+ Multimedia and interactive e-learning systems
+ Technological standardization in online collaborative learning
+ Practices in different e-collaborative scenarios
+ Surveys of collaborative e-learning adoption and results in education
+ Future of computer supported collaborative learning

OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE BOOK
+ To identify and publish worldwide best practices regarding development and use of groupware systems in e-work and e-learning scenarios.
+ To share theoretical or applied models and systems regarding monitoring and assessment of activity in computer-supported collaborative projects.
+ To forecast emerging technologies and tendencies regarding groupware systems and their applications in both business organizations and universities.
+ To provide the academic community with a base text that could serve as a reference in business and computer sciences undergraduate/graduate courses.
+ To propose hybrid approaches, which combine quantitative and qualitative analysis, to develop efficient assessment models and systems.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURE
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before April 30, 2008, a 2-5 page manuscript proposal (Word or PDF) clearly explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed chapter. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by May 31, 2008 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter organizational guidelines. Full chapters are expected to be submitted by August 31, 2008. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. The book is scheduled to be published by IGI Global, http://www.igi-global.com/, publisher of the IGI Publishing (formerly Idea Group Publishing), Information Science Publishing, IRM Press, CyberTech Publishing, Information Science Reference (formerly Idea Group Reference), and Medical Information Science Reference imprints.

Inquiries and submissions can be forwarded by e-mail to any of the book editors.
Indicate subject: Monitoring and Assessment in Online Collaborative Environments.

IMPORTANT DATES
+ 2-5 Page Proposal Deadline: April 30, 2008
+ Proposal acceptance: May 31, 2008
+ Full Chapters Deadline: August 31, 2008
+ Review Results: October 15, 2008
+ Revised Chapters Deadline: November 15, 2008
+ Notification of final acceptation/rejection: December 15, 2008