From activity to active learning: drawing and dialogue interaction in virtual learning environments for computer-supported collaborative work in design.

Virtual learning environments (VLEs) would appear to be particular effective in computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW) for active learning. Most research studies looking at computer-supported collaborative design have focused on either synchronous or asynchronous modes of communication, but near-synchronous working has received relatively little attention. Yet it could be argued that near-synchronous communication encourages creative, rhetorical and critical exchanges of ideas, building on each other’s contributions. Furthermore, although many researchers have carried out studies on collaborative design protocol, argumentation and constructive interaction, little is known about the interaction between drawing and dialogue in near-synchronous collaborative design. The paper reports the first stage of an investigation into the requirements for the design and development of interactive systems to support the learning of collaborative design activities. The aim of the study is to understand the collaborative design processes while sketching in a shared white board and audio conferencing media. Empirical data on design processes have been obtained from observation of seven sessions with groups of design students solving an interior space-planning problem of a lounge-diner in a virtual learning environment, Lyceum, an in-house software developed by the Open University to support its students in collaborative learning.

Carbon suboxide: the infrared spectrum from 1800 to 2600 cm-1

The infrared spectrum of carbon suboxide has been recorded from 1800 to 2600 cm−1 at a resolution of 0.003 cm−1. About 7% of the ca. 40 000 lines observed have been assigned and analyzed, belonging to 36 different bands. Most of these are associated with the fundamental ν3, at 2289.80 cm−1, and the combination band ν2 + ν4, at 2386.61 cm−1, each of which give rise to a system of sum bands, difference bands, and hot bands involving the low-wave-number fundamental ν7 at 18 cm−1. A few other tentative assignments are made. The bands have been analyzed for vibrational and rotational constants.