AD-HOC – Work-integrated Technology-supported Teaching and Learning

Carrying out today’s knowledge work without information and communication technology (ICT) is unimaginable. ICT makes it possible to process and exchange information quickly and efficiently. However, accomplishing tasks with ICT is often tedious: Colleagues have to be asked, how best to proceed. Necessary resources have to be searched for in the intranet and internet. And one has to get familiar with applying the various systems and tools. This way, solving a simple task can become a time consuming process for inexperienced employees and also for those who are asked for their expertise. Therefore, at the Know-Center Graz, Austria , the AD-HOC methodology has been developed to support knowledge workers in task-oriented learning and teaching situations. This methodology is used to analyse the work processes, to identify the needed resources, tools, and systems, and finally to design an ADHOC Environment. In this environment, systems and tools are arranged for specific work processes. Users are then guided at their work tasks and are provided with the necessary resources instantly. This article presents the AD-HOC methodology. It analyses the obstacles that hamper efficient knowledge work and how AD-HOC overcomes them. Finally, the support of users at their specific work tasks by deployed AD-HOC Environments is shown in two field studies.