Collaborative environments to enhance creativity of design students : use of collaborative creativity support tools

Abstract

Collaboration and creativity are integral parts of design education process. Tools to support collaborative design process, as well as tools to support creativity in the process now being used together in design education. Therefore in this study, the Collaborative Creativity Support Tool (CCST) is proposed and applied to the design process that is conducted both synchronously and asynchronously. CCST is composed of design students, knowledge domain and design field. MOODLE learning environment is utilized for collaboration and enhancing creativity processes in knowledge domain, and Google SketchUp 3D modeling tool is used in the design field. Data collection is composed of observations during and after the study, surveys, correspondence logs, 3D models, interviews and statistics that were obtained by MOODLE forum logs. To evaluate effectiveness of CCST, segment analysis over demographic data, communication frequencies, communication codes, indicators of creativity, analysis of creativity in design education is used. Findings of the empirical research indicate that CCST supported design students in both collaborative and creative processes.