Introduction

1. BIOWAVE: INTERDISCIPLINARY AND COLLABORATIVE LEARNING IN ONLINE ENVIRONMENTS USING WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES A. Aguilar, N. Mach, A. Sánchez, F. Saigí, A. Juan, B. Barrios UniversitatOberta de Catalunya

2. Introduction • To solve complex problems it’s necessary: • Expertise • Interdisciplinary approach • Teamwork • Critical Thinking • Participation • Web 2.0 tools are • Widely available and accessible • Low cost • Versatile

3. Hypothesis • Can Web 2.0 tools, like Google Wave and Google Apps, encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between different studies at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya?

4. Methodology • Virtual platformbasedon Google Sites • Google wave • Google appstools • Documentrepository • Videos • PBL focusedonNutrigenomics • Qualitative-quantitativemethodologytostudyperceptions and opinionswithanonymoussurvey

5. Qualitative results • The majority of the respondents agreed that was a very between students from interesting system of interaction different disciplines and useful for their future professional development. • The majority of the participants also expressed their interest that such experiences are routinely included in their graduate training programs. • Initially uncomfortable with the control of the Google Wave tool • Reluctant to participate in extra-curricular activities • Allusions to a lack of time

6. Quantitativeresults • 71,4% of participants had consulted the various links on the site Biowave. • 78,6% of the participants had accessed intensively or frequently the main tool: Google Wave. • 92,9%of participants have had to consult the documentation available on the use of Biowave. • Approximately 35% of the students have viewed the videos

7. Quantitative results • Useful for interaction and for professional careers • Useful to encourage interaction and e-collaborative work

8. Quantitative results • 64.3% of participants value the need to encourage this type of experience in the online learning environments • 57.1% of the respondents considered the regular introduction (generalized) of this type of experience in the formative training as very convenient or enough convenient.

9. Discussion and conclusions • Biowave Platform allowed: • To exchange information and to share knowledge from a holistic approach of reality • To be aware how the interdisciplinary approach can help solving complex problems • To overcome limitations of working in a specific area • To encourage interaction • Positive evaluation of the interaction and collaboration • Useful for their future careers • Recommendedfor inclusion in formative training

10. Discussion and conclusions • Barriers • Overcome the reluctance expressed to participate in extra-curricular activities • Perception as an extra work • Overcome the reluctance to use unfamiliar tools • Difficulty to adapt schedules and time • Success factors • Instructor’s role • To solve problems that participants can recognize and perceive as useful and belonging to their main field

11. Discussion and conclusions • Improvementproposals • To incorporate proposals that enable a joint design and an appropriate structuring and timing. • To add strategically in the training programs communication skills and online collaboration tools, • Larger period of time

12. aaguilarmart@uoc.edu Thankyou!