Ebook: Collaborative Learning Through Computer Conferencing: The Najaden Papers

The idea for the Workshop on which this book is based arose from discussions which we had when we both attended an earlier - and more broadly based - NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning, directed by Claire O'Malley in Maratea, Italy, in 1989. We both felt that it would be interesting to organise a second Workshop in this area, but specifically concerned with the use of computers and networking (telematics) as communication tools for collaborative learning outside the formal school setting. We were particularly interested in examining the ways in which computer conferencing can be used for collaboration and group learning in the contexts of distance education, adult learning, professional training, and organisational networking. And we wanted to ensure that we included, in the scope of the Workshop, situations in which learning is a primary, explicit goal (e.g. an online training programme) as well as situations where learning occurs as a secondary, even incidental, outcome of a collaborative activity whose explicit purpose might be different (e.g. the activities of networked product teams or task groups). Another goal was to try to bring together for a few days people with three different perspectives on the use of computer conferencing: users, researchers, and software designers. We hoped that, if we could assemble a group of people from these three different constituencies, we might, collectively, be able to make a small contribution to real progress in the field.

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This book analyzes some of the main educational, social, and technological issues in the use of computer-mediated communication and computer networkingfor online collaborative learning, both in distance education and in corporate and organizational environments. Collaborative learning is defined as "individual learning as a result of group interactions and processes". The papers in the book arose from a NATO Advanced Research Workshop held on the sailing ship Najaden. They focus on the use of computer conferencing as a medium which frees participants from the constraints of time and place, and which provides a "collective memory" of all group interactions and exchanges. The book contains contributions from users and implementors of computer conferencing systems in major universities and companies, from researchers and evaluators analyzing the processes and outcomes of online group learning, and from software designers working on new systems for enhancing networked collaboration in groups. Collectively, the contributions mark out the boundaries and directions for the "third generation" of distance education and open learning systems, based on the use of national, international, and global telematic networks for interpersonal communication and group interactions.

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This book analyzes some of the main educational, social, and technological issues in the use of computer-mediated communication and computer networkingfor online collaborative learning, both in distance education and in corporate and organizational environments. Collaborative learning is defined as "individual learning as a result of group interactions and processes". The papers in the book arose from a NATO Advanced Research Workshop held on the sailing ship Najaden. They focus on the use of computer conferencing as a medium which frees participants from the constraints of time and place, and which provides a "collective memory" of all group interactions and exchanges. The book contains contributions from users and implementors of computer conferencing systems in major universities and companies, from researchers and evaluators analyzing the processes and outcomes of online group learning, and from software designers working on new systems for enhancing networked collaboration in groups. Collectively, the contributions mark out the boundaries and directions for the "third generation" of distance education and open learning systems, based on the use of national, international, and global telematic networks for interpersonal communication and group interactions.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-X
Learning Together Apart....Pages 1-24
Front Matter....Pages 25-27
Telematic Support for In-Service Teacher Training....Pages 29-37
Waiting for Electropolis....Pages 39-49
Computer Mediated Communication for Management Learning....Pages 51-68
Collaboration in International Online Teams....Pages 69-85
Collaborative Learning in a Large Scale Computer Conferencing System....Pages 87-101
Front Matter....Pages 103-104
Evaluation Methodologies for Computer Conferencing Applications....Pages 105-116
Computer Conferencing and Content Analysis....Pages 117-136
A Case Study Approach to Evaluation of Computer Conferencing....Pages 137-146
Talking, Teaching, and Learning in Network Groups: Lessons from Research....Pages 147-165
Understanding Collaborative Learning in Networked Organizations....Pages 167-178
Front Matter....Pages 179-180
The Challenge of Conferencing System Development....Pages 181-187
Metaphors and the Design of the Human Interface....Pages 189-199
Designing Human Interfaces for Collaborative Learning....Pages 201-210
Toward a Hypermedium for Collaborative Learning?....Pages 211-223
Computer Conferencing Functions and Standards....Pages 225-245
Hardware and Software Architecture in Computer Conferencing Systems....Pages 247-255
Back Matter....Pages 257-264

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This book analyzes some of the main educational, social, and technological issues in the use of computer-mediated communication and computer networkingfor online collaborative learning, both in distance education and in corporate and organizational environments. Collaborative learning is defined as "individual learning as a result of group interactions and processes". The papers in the book arose from a NATO Advanced Research Workshop held on the sailing ship Najaden. They focus on the use of computer conferencing as a medium which frees participants from the constraints of time and place, and which provides a "collective memory" of all group interactions and exchanges. The book contains contributions from users and implementors of computer conferencing systems in major universities and companies, from researchers and evaluators analyzing the processes and outcomes of online group learning, and from software designers working on new systems for enhancing networked collaboration in groups. Collectively, the contributions mark out the boundaries and directions for the "third generation" of distance education and open learning systems, based on the use of national, international, and global telematic networks for interpersonal communication and group interactions.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-X
Learning Together Apart....Pages 1-24
Front Matter....Pages 25-27
Telematic Support for In-Service Teacher Training....Pages 29-37
Waiting for Electropolis....Pages 39-49
Computer Mediated Communication for Management Learning....Pages 51-68
Collaboration in International Online Teams....Pages 69-85
Collaborative Learning in a Large Scale Computer Conferencing System....Pages 87-101
Front Matter....Pages 103-104
Evaluation Methodologies for Computer Conferencing Applications....Pages 105-116
Computer Conferencing and Content Analysis....Pages 117-136
A Case Study Approach to Evaluation of Computer Conferencing....Pages 137-146
Talking, Teaching, and Learning in Network Groups: Lessons from Research....Pages 147-165
Understanding Collaborative Learning in Networked Organizations....Pages 167-178
Front Matter....Pages 179-180
The Challenge of Conferencing System Development....Pages 181-187
Metaphors and the Design of the Human Interface....Pages 189-199
Designing Human Interfaces for Collaborative Learning....Pages 201-210
Toward a Hypermedium for Collaborative Learning?....Pages 211-223
Computer Conferencing Functions and Standards....Pages 225-245
Hardware and Software Architecture in Computer Conferencing Systems....Pages 247-255
Back Matter....Pages 257-264
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