The work-reflection-learning cycle - Department of Computer and ...

Conclusion and recommendations for further work
practices and guidelines for PBL in the particular domains, and should also contribute to
the development of these work domains beyond educational settings.
The insights from this thesis about the potential of historical data in collaboration tools
to aid retrospective reflection should be developed into a contribution to the software
engineering community, as the rationale for the proposed use of historical data
originates in SE research and the needs of SE professionals. The empirical data on the
use of Trac in retrospective reflection, as well as new studies in which a similar
approach is introduced in a larger number of student projects, should result in
publications directed at the SE community with a focus on how the proposed approach
meets the needs of Software Engineering. Exposing the research to the software
engineering community (and not just SE education) would help ensure that the use of
historical data to aid retrospective reflection in SE student projects become not only an
improvement of education practices but, in line with the PBL core idea of doing „real
work‟, an improvement of SE practice.
The thesis outlined the first steps of an investigation of the connection between day-today
use of lightweight collaboration tools, tool features and the potential of the tools to
aid retrospective reflection. Further CSCW research along this line should aim for the
development of a framework that can be used by project teams and organizers as well as
designers of collaboration tools to consider the role of collaboration tools in
retrospective reflection. The development of the framework would require a survey of
state-of-the-art research on day-to-day tool use in teams combined with empirical
studies addressing the connection between day-to-day tool use and the use of the same
tools in retrospective reflection. Again, SE student projects may be used as test beds.
The reflection model proposed in the thesis can be used to inform further research on
reflective learning and the role of collaboration tools in supporting day-to-day
collaborative work and reflection on that work. Based on the results of such research,
the model can be further developed and refined. I propose three research directions that
can be pursued independently or in combination:
Firstly, the model can be used as a basis for exploring and comparing various types of
use of historical data in day-to-day work, including retrospective reflection. This
research should identify how current approaches and solutions to the gathering and use
of data for one purpose (e.g. coordination) – or the gathered data themselves - could be
applied for another purpose (e.g. reflection) within the work practice. The research
should draw on state-of-the-art research within SE and CSCW and result in
contributions (to the same communities) with practical applicability for the organization
of, and tool support for, collaborative project work. Also, the research should lead to a
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