Open AccessDescribing and Enhancing Collaboration at the Computer
Author(s) -
Ken Beatty
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
canadian journal of learning and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1499-6685
pISSN - 1499-6677
DOI - 10.21432/t2hk5d
Subject(s) - affordance , teamwork , set (abstract data type) , computer supported collaborative learning , context (archaeology) , collaborative learning , computer mediated communication , computer science , cooperative learning , collaborative writing , mathematics education , computer assisted instruction , educational technology , pedagogy , teaching method , knowledge management , human–computer interaction , psychology , multimedia , world wide web , paleontology , the internet , political science , law , biology , programming language
Computer-based learning materials differ from classroom practice in that they seldom explicitly offer opportunities for collaboration. Despite this, students do collaborate, helping one another through the content and affordances of computer materials. But, in doing so, students meet with challenges. Paradoxically, these challenges can either inspire or discourage learning and second-language acquisition. This paper, based on research with twenty Hong Kong university students in a controlled experiment, evaluates challenges to collaboration at the computer as evidenced by discourse. The students were videotaped and their discourse transcribed and evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively, according to a set of discourse markers created to describe collaborative, non-collaborative and ambiguous strategies. The paper begins by exploring the differences between collaboration and similar terms such as teamwork and cooperative learning then goes on to define collaboration in the context of computer-assisted learning. It ends by presenting practical suggestions for software designers, teachers and students to enhance collaboration at the computer.