Computer-supported collaboration: simulation-based training using LEGO®

Learning the effects of proximity and distance in collaborative work and understanding the challenges and possibilities of information technology use in distributed teams can be challenging for students. This paper describes a LEGO® simulation-based training program and shows how the use of LEGO bricks and a videoconferencing platform can help students experience computer-supported collaboration firsthand. Students who participated in simulation-based training sessions adopted different work coordination and information sharing strategies. The working patterns observed during three different simulation-based training sessions were analyzed based on the literature on collaborative work. Findings show that using LEGO bricks to recreate “real-life” situations allows students to immediately immerse themselves in the challenges faced by “virtual workers” and more easily and fully understand and integrate theoretical concepts related to collaborative work and computer-supported collaboration.