Masterclasses

Program

Room1Room2Room3Room4
Day 1 – June 17MorningDCWS5WS1WS3
AfternoonWS6
Day 2 – June 18MorningMC1WS2WS4WS8
AfternoonMC2WS7

MC1: The practice-centered research program in CSCW

Kjeld Schmidt
Copenhagen Business School, Denmark & University of Siegen, Germany

Abstract

As a research area, CSCW was formed in response to the early development and use of collaboration technologies, as researchers from different disciplines and in different practical domains began to try to understand the potentials and issues of these new technologies. Accordingly, CSCW was from the outset a rather heterogeneous research area, spanning not only computer science and social science but also a manifold of distinctly different research paradigms. In important ways, CSCW is still characterized by such heterogeneity, not least because the challenges emerging from new collaborative technologies give rise to new potentials and issues, but also because collaborative technologies become applied in new work domains and use contexts. At the same time, however, in the midst of this persistent heterogeneity, a research program has been articulated and developed that attempts to build, from the bottom up, a conceptual framework for our understand of the design and use of collaboration technologies in actual work practices.

Based on an initial overview of the emergence and history of the CSCW research areas, the master class will focus on outlining the practice-centered research program in CSCW:

  1. The unit of analysis of CSCW research: coordinative practices and artifacts.
  2. The key challenge CSCW research: The problematic nature of collaborative
    technology: the problematic nature of constructing and embeddng models of
    social relations in computational artifacts.
  3. The analytic axis of CSCW research: The notion of ‘plans and situated action’
    or ‘theory and practice’.

How to Apply

To apply, participants ARE REQUIRED TO ENROLL themselves in the masterclass by using the following form: https://forms.gle/fLK5Hmd2VxT8cTzTA.

The masterclass is introductory and is designed for graduate students and junior researchers (master students as well as PhD students and postdocs) interested in, entering, or engaged in CSCW research.

No specific initial knowledge of CSCW is required, but participants are recommended to read, or look into, some recent publications by lecturer, such as

Ciolfi, Luigina; Myriam Lewkowicz; and Kjeld Schmidt (2023). Computer-Supported Cooperative Work. In J. Vanderdonckt; P. Palanque; and M. Winckler (eds): Handbook of Human Computer Interaction. Cham, Switzerland, etc.: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27648-9_30-1. Preprint: https://www.academia.edu/101022435/CSCW_History_Core_Issues_and_Approaches_in_Computer_Supported_Cooperative_Work

Schmidt, Kjeld (2024 [In press]). “The discipline of steel”: Technical knowledge in the coordinative practices of steelmaking. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Vol. 33. Preprint:
https://www.academia.edu/113011850/The_discipline_of_steel_Technical_knowledge_in_the_coordinative_practices_of_steelmaking

Schmidt, Kjeld (2024 [In press]). The concept of ‘practice’ and its complications. In M. Dybowski; W. Dzięgielewska; and W. Rzepiński (eds): Practices in Legal and Social Theories. Milton Park, UK: Routledge. Preprint :
https://www.academia.edu/116037345/The_concept_of_practice_and_its_complications

Organizer’s Bio

Kjeld Schmidt is Professor Emeritus of Work, Organization, and Technology at
Copenhagen Business School, Denmark, and Senior Professor at the University of Siegen, Germany. Initially a software programmer (1965-72), Schmidt studied sociology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and obtained his MSc degree in sociology from the University of Lund, Sweden, in 1974. Schmidt has been involved in the research area of Computer-Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) since the 1980s. Bridging from philosophy to sociology to computer science and encompassing ethnographic studies, conceptual analysis, and development of demonstrator prototypes, his research primarily has centered on the conceptual foundations of CSCW research. He is the author of Cooperative Work and Coordinative Practices (Springer 2011). Altogether, he has published a large number of scholarly books and articles in English and Danish. At the same time, he has been Editor-in-Chief of the international journal Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) since its launch in 1992 and has been involved in organizing a large number of CSCW conferences. Schmidt was awarded the honorary title of dr.scient.soc. in 2007 and in 2013 he received the EUSSET-IISI Life Time Achievement Award.


MC2: Beyond Charts & Graphs: creating Data Visualizations to enhance knowledge

Chiara Ceccarini
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
University of Bologna

Abstract

In an era characterized by a continual increase in the volume of information and data from diverse sources and presented in various formats, the challenge of effectively representing them and enabling users to derive meaningful insights becomes relevant. This underscores the growing significance of Data Visualization, defined as the systematic representation of data to convey information clearly and impactfully, leveraging human cognitive abilities. The objective is to create a valuable decision-making tool, spotlighting patterns or anomalies within the data. Moreover, Data Visualization enhances data processing in the human brain more efficiently than textual information, fostering comprehension of heterogeneous and large data sets, improving collaboration, and providing an adept ad-hoc data analysis tool.

This masterclass aims to empower participants with the skills and insights necessary for creating visualization. Focusing on the principles of data visualization, participants will explore diverse techniques to transform information into data representations, combining theoretical lessons with hands-on group activities.

The theoretical sessions cover the fundamentals, techniques, and best practices in data visualization, allowing participants to gain a solid understanding of the field. Complementing the theoretical aspect, practical group activities offer participants the chance to apply learned concepts in real-world scenarios and foster teamwork.

How to Apply

To apply, participants ARE REQUIRED TO ENROLL themselves in the masterclass using the following form: https://forms.gle/YqVZ4Pb1ntRxcEqj6.

The Masterclass is designed for all students: master students, as well as PhD students, who would like to learn more about using visualization and visual tools in scientific or professional contexts.

No previous knowledge is required and no software installation is needed for the activities.

Organizer’s Bio

Chiara Ceccarini is a junior assistant professor at the Department of Computer
Science and Engineering, University of Bologna (Italy), where she is currently
teaching Web Systems Engineering and virtualized systems. Her research focuses on developing a methodology for designing interactive data visualization tools aimed at promoting and raising awareness among specific communities on issues of public relevance and interest, such as sustainability and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) identified by the United Nations. In particular, she investigated several case studies such as (1) Human-Building Interaction and the saving of energy resources and dematerialization, (2) sustainable tourism exploiting the concept of smart tourism for the creation of authentic connections between tourists and locals, and (3) Machine Learning for Data Visualization (ML4Viz) for the analysis of employee or former employee reviews related to the work environment which should reflect the values of the employee. However, she is also currently exploring alternative methods of data representation that extend beyond visual perception, delving into auditory or tactile modalities such as sonification and physicalization.