Strategies for effective computer-supported collaborative learning

Abstract

In social constructionist pedagogical approaches, learning is defined as an interactive, discursive and situated activity. This rests on the idea that knowledge is co-constructed through social interaction. Students are seen as active learners and teachers as facilitators. In both off- and online settings, collaborative learning refers to two or more learners working together and striving to solve a common task or achieve a shared learning objective using predominantly peer-directed interactions. Computer-supported collaborative learning has the potential to improve learners’ cognitive, affective and social learning outcomes.