This article describes the design, implementation, and preliminary evaluation of three synchronous distributed learning prototype systems. Each of these systems supports a particular style of interaction, referred to as a socio- activity learning model, between members of student dyads (pairs). The first two systems, Co-Working System and Working Along System, are realizations of two basic models of collaborative, one-on-one, synchronous, and networked learning, while the third one, the Hybrid System, is a combined model of the two. This work intends to identify a set of domain independent tools necessary for these models and collect information for future development through some preliminary evaluation of some experimental trials of these systems. All these systems were implemented on WWW using the computer language Java.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
VygostkyL., Mind in Society, ColeM.John-SteinerV.ScribnerS.SoubermanE. (trans.), Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1978.
ScardamaliaM.BereiterC., Higher Levels of Agency for Children in Knowledge Building: A Challenge For the Design of New Knowledge Media, The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 1:1, pp. 37–68, 1994.
4.
BrownA.CampioneJ. C., Communities of Learning and Thinking, or a Context By Any Other Name, in Developmental Perspectives on Teaching and Learning Thinking Skills, KuhnD. (ed.), Contributions in Human Development, Basel, Karger, Vol. 21, pp. 108–126, 1990.
5.
FrassonC., Motivation vs. Cognition: What Is More Important? Panel abstract, in Emerging Computer Technologies in Education, pp. 319–330, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Taipei, Taiwan, 1993.
6.
DoiseW.MugnyG.Perret-ChermontA., Social Interaction and the Development of Cognitive Operations, European Journal of Social Psychology, 5:3, pp. 367–383, 1975.
7.
MugnyG.Perret-ClermontA.DoiseW., Interpersonal Coordinations and Sociological Differences in the Construction of the Intellect, in Progress in Applied Social Psychology, StephensonG. M.DavisJ. H. (eds.), Vol. I, pp. 315–343, Wiley, New York, 1981.
8.
MugnyG.DoiseW., Socio-Cognitive Conflict and Structure of Individual and Collective Performances, European Journal of Social Psychology, 8, pp. 181–192, 1978.
9.
PetittoA., Collaboration in Problem Solving, manuscript available from author, University of Rochester, New York, 1985.
10.
KanselaarG.ErkensG., A Cooperative System for Collaborative Problem Solving, Proceeding of CSCL '95, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1995.
11.
RingG.MacMahonM., Web Instruction: Searching for a Theoretical Basis, in Proceedings of International Conference on Computers in Education, HalimZ.OttmannT.RazakZ. (eds.), Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Kuching, Malaysia, 1997.
12.
LaiK. W., Social Interaction and Communication in a Web-Based Tertiary Course: Some Observations, in Global Education on the Net, Proceedings of International Conference on Computers in Education, ChanT. W.CollinsA.LinJ. (eds.), Vol. 1, pp. 79–85, China Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag, Berlin/Heidelberg, 1998.
13.
BaymN., The Emergence of Community in Computer-Mediated Communication, in Cybersociety: Computer-Mediated Communication and Community, JonesS. (ed.), Sage, United Kingdom, pp. 138–163, 1995.
14.
RielM.LevinJ., Building Electronic Communities: Success and Failure in Computer Networking, Instructional Science, 19, pp. 145–169, 1990.
15.
BellP.DavisE. A.LinnM. C., The Knowledge Integration Environment: Theory and Design, proceedings of Computer Support for Collaborative Learning, pp. 14–21, Indiana, 1995.
16.
BoxtelC. V.LindenJ. V.KanselaarG., Collaborative Construction of Conceptual Understanding: Interaction Processes and Learning Outcomes Emerging from a Concept Mapping and a Poster Task, Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 8:3/4, pp. 341–361, 1997.
17.
HenriF., Computer Conferencing and Content Analysis, in Collaborative Learning Through Computer Conferencing, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 117–136, 1992.
18.
OliverR.OmariA.HerringtonJ., Exploring Student Interactions in Collaborative World Wide Web Learning Environments, in Proceedings 3 of World Conference on Educational Multimedia Hypermedia, Vol. II, Association for the Advancement of Computers in Education, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1997.
19.
SelfJ., Dormorbile: A Vehicle for Metacognition, in Emerging Computer Technologies in Education, ChanT.SelfJ. (eds.), Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Taipei, Taiwan, 1993.
20.
CookJ., Mentoring, Metacognition and Music: Interaction Analyses and Implications for Intelligent Learning Environments, International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education, 9, pp. 45–87, 1998.
21.
HmeloC. E.GuzdialM.TurnsJ., Computer-Support for Collaborative Learning: Learning to Support Student Engagement, Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 9:2, pp. 107–129, 1998.
TeasleyS. D.RoschelleJ., Constructing a Joint Problem Space: The Computer As a Tool For Sharing Knowledge, in Computers as Cognitive Tools, LajoieS. P.DerryS. J. (eds.), Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, New Jersey, 1993.
24.
BurtonM.BrnaP.Treasure-JonesT., Splitting the Collaborative Atom: How to Support Learning about Collaboration, in Artificial Intelligence in Education: Knowledge and Media in Learning Systems, BoulayB.MizoguchiR. (eds.), Proceedings of AI_ED 97 World Conference on Artificial Intelligence in Education, IOS Press, Netherlands, 1997.
25.
CohenE. G., Classroom Management and Complex Instruction, paper presented at the meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, Illinois, 1991.
26.
GanS., Cooperative Learning: Students as IT Experts and Resource Personnel in the Classrooms, in Proceedings of World Conference on Educational Multimedia/Hypermedia, V1, 1997.
