Computer Supported Intercultural Collaborative Learning: A Study on Challenges as Perceived by Students

Abstract

This study examines challenges that are inherent in computer supported intercultural collaborative learning (CSICL) in higher education. For this purpose, a 22-item survey was completed by students (N=98) who worked collaboratively in culturally diverse pairs on an online learning task focused on the field of life sciences. Students were required to rate on a Likert scale the importance of a certain challenge in CSICL. Descriptive statistics were used to determine what challenges are perceived to be the most important by students in CSICL. The results suggest that ‘a collaborative partner is not communicating properly’, ‘a low level of motivation’ and ‘insufficient English language skills’ were perceived by all study participants to be the most important challenges in CSICL