Literature Review

The Sociability of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Environments


Karel Kreijns
Department of Natural and Technical Sciences
Open University of the Netherlands
P.O. Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands
karel.kreijns@ou.nl

Paul A. Kirschner
Educational Technology Expertise Center
Open University of the Netherlands
P.O. Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands
paul.kirshner@ou.nl

Wim Jochems
Educational Technology Expertise Center
Open University of the Netherlands
P.O. Box 2960, 6401 DL Heerlen, The Netherlands
wim.jochems@ou.nl


ABSTRACT
There is much positive research on computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments in asynchronous distributed learning groups (DLGs). There is also research that shows that contemporary CSCL environments do not completely fulfil expectations on supporting interactive group learning, shared understanding, social construction of knowledge, and acquisition of competencies. There appear to be two major pitfalls impeding achievement of the desired social interaction in CSCL environments: taking social interaction in groups for granted and the lack of attention paid to the social psychological dimension of social interaction outside of the task context. Current solutions offered to avoid the pitfalls placed responsibility on instructors and teachers to encourage collaborative learning and social interaction. To both free educators from this burden and be more cost effective, we propose an intelligent CSCL environment. The environment is based upon a theoretical framework that suggests embedding certain properties in the environment to act as social contextual facilitators - social affordances - to initiate and sustain learner’s social interactions. Finally, a group awareness widget (GAW) - a software tool providing the learner group awareness about the others in the task and in the non-task context - is introduced as an embodiment of this theoretical framework.

Keywords: Computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL), Distributed learning group (DLG), Group awareness widget (GAW), Social affordances, Social interaction, System sociability

Relevant because of the notion of social affordances as quoted in Goodyear's paper. Downloaded and printed.