Technology tools for scripted collaborative learning: The case of the reload learning design player

Abstract

Efficient design of computer-supported collaborative learning activities is a key precondition in order to motivate teachers to implement CSCL in their courses. Except for the necessity for high-level IMS-LD compliant authoring tools, it is of equal importance to smoothly execute the collaborative Learning Designs and, thus, there is a need for LD compliant players to successfully implement LD in real educational settings. This work presents a CSCL pilot case study, for evaluating the Reload Learning Design Player. In the case study, postgraduate students rehearse two topics in order to develop a deeper understanding of them, following the Jigsaw collaborative learning technique. The paper introduces the objectives and context of the case study, elaborates on how the Reload Player was employed, depicts the applied evaluation methodology and discusses the most significant findings derived from the case study. © 2009 IEEE.