Bloch, N. & Serbanuta, C. Innovative tools for community collaboration — A history. Poster presented at ALISE 2011, Jan. 4–7, San Diego, CA.
What socio-technical factors charted the course of this project? These collaborative inquiry tools were developed and sustained by an ever-changing cycle of students and faculty, who attempted to respond to community stakeholders. A number of campus units were involved, as were several community organizations. The unusual teamwork brought diverse but often transient perspectives, funding opportunities, and skills. Discrepancies in values, motivations, and objectives posed constraints, but for many years they also acted as stimuli to further development. Once a maverick "collaboratory", ultimately the project's pedagogical commitment failed to elevate it above the draw of new vernacular web 2.0 tools.