Learning in an active, collaborative space

Abstract

Based on the implications of technological progress and socioconstructivist learning theory, trends are being developed for tools to promote learning in the information society of the 21st century. The future promises a massive increase in information and its ubiquitous availability, along with an increase in computer-mediated communication. It is particularly important to understand that the communication requests placed on the individual and the range of available communication channels will increase in coming years. Tools must therefore be conceptualized to manage the communication and information glut of the future in an "intelligent" way permitting a collaborative way of learning. Looking ahead, lifelong, rather informal and problem-based learning could become significantly more important than formal learning. The characteristics of wikis will be presented as a possible representative example and explored based on the above criteria. The chapter concludes with prognoses on the nature of ICTsupported learning in coming years.