Programs Support Collaborative Wiring
Sixth Floor Media has released several groupware products designed to enhance collaboration in academia and enrich learning opportunities. CommonSpace is collaborative writing groupware that features a unique column-based interface that allows multiple parties to create columns adjacent to a document for written or voice annotations. It also has multiple workspaces for tracking drafts of complex documents and supports multiple, real-time conferencing. The program utilizes the TCP/IP network protocol, making it well suited for distance learning programs and for use over the Internet.
CourseMap is designed to work with or independent of CommonSpace, managing documents and organizing the electronic exchange of syllabi, handouts, assignments and class bulletins between instructor and students.
Teaching in Process, another new product, is a multimedia CD-ROM resource guide designed specifically for writing instructors. Developed in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Writing Program, this resource includes audio and video workshops for novice instructors; a library of practical course outlines, handouts and materials for use by all instructors; video roundtable discussions with faculty members; and the capacity to customize the database with the user's own departmental materials. Sixth Floor Media, Boston, MA, (800) 565-6247, http://www.sixthfloor.com.
This article originally appeared in the 08/01/1996 issue of THE Journal.