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Summary: Knowledge Exchange: Exploring the Role of Context in Collaborative
Learning
Michael E. Atwood1
and Francisco X. Soria2
College of Information Science and Technology1
, Department of Computer Science2
Drexel University
3141 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
atwood@drexel.edu1
, fxs22@drexel.edu2
Abstract
Information is often difficult to understand in the absence of context. Although context is generally readily available in the
physical world, that is not always the case in digital information systems. Collaborative learning platforms, which may
include diverse topic areas, particularly suffer from the lack of context, making it difficult to obtain the most appropriate
information. In this paper we discuss a digital information system that is used as a collaborative learning platform by students
and experts. We explore the concept of context and its potential benefits to collaborative learning platforms. We then present
the Knowledge Exchange collaborative learning platform and describe how it uses context to help users obtain the
appropriate information. Examples illustrating the advantages of the Knowledge Exchange's use of context are provided.
1. Introduction
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